IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


K//    '^^-^^ 


t 


1.0 


1.1 


mm  m23 
a    12.0 


IL25  11 1.4 


m 


11^  I 


1.6 


FhotDgraphJc 
_ScMices 


¥^ 


¥^ 


^ 


<^ 


as  vmr  main  stmit 

VIIIMTn.N.Y.  USM 
(7U)tn-4M» 


^%^^ 

4^^ 

^ 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVi/iCIVIH 
Coiiection  de 
microfiches. 


CanadiAn  Institut*  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Instltut  Canadian  da  microraproductlons  historlquas 


;\ 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notaa/Notat  tachniquaa  at  bibliographiquaa 


Tha  Inatituta  haa  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  baat 
original  copy  avaiiab^a  for  filming.  Faaturaa  of  thia 
copy  which  may  ba  bibliographically  uniqua, 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagaa  in  tha 
raproduction,  or  which  may  aigniflcantly  changa 
tha  uaual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chackaid  balow. 


D 


D 


n 


n 


n 


Colourad  covars/ 
Couvartura  da  couleur 


I      I   Covors  damaged/ 


Couvartu'a  andommagte 

Covara  raatored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couvarture  raataurte  et/ou  pellicula 


I      I   Cover  title  miaaing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  mapa/ 

Cartea  giographiquaa  en  couleur 


□   Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

□   Coloured  platea  and/or  illuatrationa/ 
Planchaa  et/ou  illuatrationa  on  couleur 

□    Bound  with  other  material/ 
RallA  avac  d'autrea  documenta 

0   Tight  binding  may  cauae  ahadowa  or  diatortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  aarrie  paut  cauaar  da  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
diatortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intArieure 


Blank  leavaa  added  during  reatoration  may 
appear  within  tha  text.  Whenever  poaaible,  theae 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
11  aa  paut  que  certainaa  pagea  blanchea  aJoutAea 
lore  d'une  reatauration  epparaiaaant  dana  le  texta, 
mala,  loraque  cela  Atait  poaaible,  cea  pagea  n'ont 
pea  AtA  fiim^ea. 

Additional  commenta:/ 
Commantairea  supplAmantairaa: 


Thia  item  ia  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 


L'inatitut  a  microfilm*  le  meiifaur  axemplaire 
qt  ».'  lui  a  At*  poaaible  de  ae  procurer.  Lea  dAtaiia 
d    -  It  axemplaire  qui  aont  paut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographlque,  qui  peuvant  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mAthode  normale  de  filmaga 
aont  indiquAa  ci-dessous. 


n~|   Coloured  pages/ 


D 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pagea  endommagAes 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  reataurAea  et/ou  pelllculAea 

Pages  diacoiourad,  stained  or  foxei 
Pages  dAcolorAea,  tachetAes  ou  piquAes 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  dAtachAes 

Showthroughy 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

QuailitA  inAgale  de  I'lmpreaaion 

Includea  supplementary  materii 
Comprend  du  matAr>«l  supplAmentaSre 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Adition  diaponible 


r^  Pages  damaged/ 

I — I  Pages  reatorad  and/or  laminated/ 

rri  Pages  diacoiourad,  stained  or  foxed/ 

I     I  Pages  detached/ 

r~y\  Showthrough/ 

I     I  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

I     I  Includea  supplementary  material/ 

I — I  Only  edition  available/ 


Th 
to 


Th 
p« 
of 
fill 


Or 
ba 

th< 
aic 

oti 
fir 
aic 
or 


Th 
ahi 
Til 


Ml 
dif 
em 

bm 
rig 
rec 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Lea  pages  totalement  ou  partieilement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  una  peiure, 
etc.,  ont  AtA  fiimAes  A  nouveau  de  fa9on  A 
obtanir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


Cede 
10X 

»cum 

ent  e 

stfil 

mA  au  tau 
14X 

X  de 

rAdu 

ction 
18X 

indl« 

|UAG 

l-dea 

sous 
22X 

26X 

30X 

V 

12X                           16X                           aPX                           24X                           28X                           32X 

. 

Th«  copy  fllmcct  here  haa  b—n  raproduead  thanks 
to  tha  ganaroaity  off: 

Univmityof  Albtrta 
Edmonton 


L'axamplaira  filmA  f ut  raproduit  grAca  k  la 
g^nArosit*  da: 

University  of  Albtrta 
Edmonton 


Tha  imagaa  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  baat  quality 
poasibia  eonsidaring  tha  condition  and  lagibility 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  Icaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  apacificationa. 


Original  copiaa  in  printad  papar  covara  ara  fiimad 
baginning  with  tha  front  cover  and  anding  on 
tha  laat  paga  with  a  printad  or  llluatratad  impraa- 
sion,  or  tlw  back  cover  whan  eppropriata.  All 
othar  original  copiaa  ara  fiimad  baginning  on  tha 
first  paga  with  a  printad  or  iiluatratad  impraa- 
sion,  and  anding  on  tha  laat  paga  with  a  printad 
or  iiluatratad  impraaalon. 


Tha  laat  racordad  f rama  on  aach  microficha 
shall  contain  tha  symbol  —^  (moaning  "CON- 
TINUED").  or  tha  symbol  V  (moaning  "END"), 
whichavar  appiiaa. 


Las  Imsgas  suivsntas  ont  4til  raprodultas  avac  la 
plus  grsnd  soin.  compta  tanu  da  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattati  da  l'axamplaira  film*,  at  an 
conformity  avac  las  conditions  du  eontrst  da 
filmaga. 

Laa  axampiairaa  originaux  dont  la  couvartura  •n 
papiar  aat  imprimia  sont  f  ilmAs  an  comman9ant 
par  la  pramiar  plat  at  mn  tarminant  soit  par  la 
darnlAra  paga  qui  comporta  una  amprainta 
d'imprassion  ou  d'lllustration.  soit  par  la  sacond 
plat,  salon  la  cas.  Toua  las  autras  axamplairas 
originaux  sont  fMmto  •»  commandant  par  la 
pramlAra  paga  qui  comporta  una  amprainta 
d'Impraaaion  ou  d'iliusr/ation  at  an  tarminant  par 
la  damlAra  paga  qui  comporta  una  talla 
ampfainta. 

Un  das  symbolaa  suivants  spparattra  sur  la 
darniira  imaga  da  chaqua  microficha.  sslon  la 
caa:  la  symbols  ^  signlfia     .  SUIVRE",  la 
symbols  ▼  signifia  "FIN". 


Mapa,  piataa.  chana.  ate.,  may  ba  fiimad  at 
diffarant  reduction  ratioa.  Thoaa  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  expoaura  are  fiimad 
beginning  In  the  upper  left  hend  comer,  left  to 
right  end  top  to  bottom,  aa  many  framae  ae 
required.  The  following  diagrama  illuatrate  the 
method: 


Laa  cartaa.  planches,  tablaeux.  etc..  pavvent  Atra 
fllmto  d  dee  taux  da  reduction  diffArents. 
Lorsque  Is  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atra 
reproduit  en  un  seul  ciichi.  il  est  film*  *  partir 
da  i'angle  supArieur  geuche.  de  gauche  A  droit*, 
et  do  haut  en  bes.  en  prenant  la  nombre 
d'imagea  nAcassaira.  Las  disgrammas  suivants 
illustrant  la  mAthoda. 


1  2  3 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

f  r  "    '  'i^'"'*^"""^^'**M"PiM>PiMHnQHi 


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Tl 


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7 


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LIFE 

ov 
MA-KA-TAI-ME-SHEKIA-KIAK 

OR 

BLACK   HAWK, 

EMBRACINO  THE 

TRADITION    '  B  HIS  NATION — ^INDIAN  WARS   IN  WHICH   HE    HAS 
BEEN  ENGAGED — CAUSE  OF  JOINING  THE  BRITISH  IN  THEIR 
LATE   WAR  WITH  AMERICA,  AND   ITS    HISTORY — ^DES- 
CRIPTION   OF   THE    ROCK-RIVER   VILLAGE — ^MAN- 
NERS   AND    CUSTOMS — ENCROACHMENTS    BT 
THE  WHITES,   CONTRARY    TO  TREATY — 
REMOVAL  FROM  HIS  VILLAGE  IN  1831. 

WITH   AN   ACCOUNT  OF   THE  CAUSE 

AND 

GENERAL  HISTORY 

OP  THE 


LATE  WAR, 


HIS  SURRENDER  AND  CONFINEMENT  AT 
JEFFERSON  BARRACKS, 


AND 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


DICTATED  BY  HIMSELF. 


J.  B.  PATTEBSON,  OF  BOCK  ISLAId*,  OLLmOIS, 
EDITOR  AND  FROPRIETOR. 

CINCINNATI. 

1833. 


tl^ IJ,n!ipW^ 


w 


'>  '■',    VK 


.■?'-• 


».**' 


DISTRICT  OF  ILLINOIS,  m: 

Bb  it  rembmbbrbd,  that  on  thii  sixteenth  day  of  November,  Anno 
Domini  eighteen  hundied  and  tliirty-three,  J.  B.  Pattekbon,  of  said 
district,  hath  deposited  in  this  office  the  title  of  a  Book,  the  title  of  which 
is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

**  Life  of  Makataimeshekiakiak  or  Black  Hawk,  embracing  the  Tradi- 
tion of  his  nation— Indian  wars  in  which  he  has  been  engaged — Cause  of 
joining  the  British  in  their  late  war  Miiti  America,  and  its  history — Des- 
cription of  the  Rock-River  Village — Manners  and  Customs — ^Encroach- 
ments by  the  Whiles,  contrary  to  treaty-~Removal  from  his  village  in 
1831.  With  an  Account  of  die  cause  and  general  history  of  the  Late 
War,  his  surrender  and  confinement  at  Jefferson  Barracks,  and  travels 
through  the  United  States.  Dictated  ;hy  himself.  J.  B.  Patterson  of 
Rock  Island,  111.  Editor  and  Proprietor.*^  ,   ^ 

The  right  whereof  he  claims  as  author,  in  conformity  with  an  act  of 
Congress,  entitled  (*  An  act  to  amend  the  several  acts  respecting  copy 
rights.'*  W.  H.  BROWN,  Clerk, 

of  the  DutrUt  oflOimit. 


Ai%r 


i\. 


il»!W» 


r,  Anno 

of  said 

[>f  which 

i  Tradi- 
7ause  of 
ir— Des- 
icroach- 
llage  in 
le  Late 
traveig 
iraon  of 


act  of 
og  copy 

I 

UKrwit, 


INDIAN  AGENCY, 

Rock-Island,  October  16, 1833. 
I  DO  HEREBY  CERTIFY,  that  Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia- 
kiak,  or  Black  Hawk,  did  call  upon  me,  on  his  return 
to  his  people  in  August  last,  and  express  a  great  de- 
sire to  have  a  History  of  his  Life  written  and  publish- 
ed, in  order,  (as  he  said)  '<that  the  people  of  the 
^  United  States,  (among  whom  he  had  been  travelling, 
^'  and  by  whom  he  had  been  treated  with  great  respect, 
^^  friendship,  and  hospitality,)  might  know  the  causes 
^  that  had  impelled  him  to  act  ao  he  has  done,  and  the 
^^ principles  by  which  he  was  governed."  In  accord- 
ance with  his  request,  I  acted  as  Interpreter;  and  was 
particularly  cautious,  to  understand  distinctly  the  nar- 
rative of  Black  Hawk  throughout — and  have  examined 
the  work  carefully,  since  its  completion — and  have  no 
hesitation  in  pronouncing  it  strictly  correct,  in  all  its 
particulars. 

Given  under  my  hand,  at  the  Sac  and  Fox  Agency, 
the  day  and  date  above  written. 

ANTOINE  LECLAIR, 
U,  5.  Interpreter  for  the  Sacs  and  Foxes, 


t^pif^if^^mmimr 


I 


M. 


'  TyiffitS^'" 


■J  -,  (iV 


NE-KA-NA-WEN. 


MA-NE.SE-NO  OKE-MAUT  W  \P-PI  MA-QUAI. 

Wa-ta-bai  wb-ybu, 

Ai  nan-ni  ta  co-si-ya-quai,  na-katch  ai  she-ke  she- 

he-nack,  bai-me-ka-ti  ya-quai  ke-she-he-nack,  ken-e- 

cha  we-he-ke  kai-pec-kien  a-cob,  ai  we-ne-sbe  we-be- 

yen;  ne-wai-ta-sa-mak  ke-kosh-pe  kai-a-poi  qui-wat. 

No-ta-wacb-pai  pai-ke  se-na-mon  nan-ni-joo,  ai-ke-kai 

na-o-pen.     Ni-me-to  sai-ne-ni-wen,  ne-ta-to-ta  ken  ai 

mo-be-man  ta-ta-que,  ne-me-to-sai-ne-ne-wen. 

Nin-a-kai-ka  poi-pon-ni  cbi-cba-yen,  kai-ka-ya  ba- 

ma-we  pa-sbe-to-be-yen.    Kai-na-ja  kai-nen-ne-naip, 

be-nok  ki-nok  ke-cba-kai-ya,  pai-no-yen  ne-keNe-sim- 

mak  o-ke-te-wak  ke-<H:be,  me-ka  ti-ya-quois  na^kach 
mai-quoi,  a-que-qui  pa-cbe-qui  ke-kan-ni  ta-men-nin. 

Ke-to-ta  we-yen,  a-que-ka-ni-co-te  sbe-tai-bai  yen-nen, 

cbai-cba-me-co  kai-ke-me-se  ai  we-ke  ken-ne*ta-mop 

wat,  ken-na-wa-ha-o  ma-co-qua-yeai-quoi.    Ken-wen- 

na  ak-cbe-man  wen-ni-ta-bai  ke-men-ne  to-ta-we-yeu, 


▼i  NB-KA-NA-WXN. 

ke-kog-hai  ke-ta-shi  ke-kai  na-we-yen,  he-na-cha  wfti- 
che-we  to-mo-nan,  ai  pe-che-qua-chi  mo-pen  ma-me-co, 
mai-che-we-ta  na-ino-nan,  ne-ya-we-nan  qui-a-ha-wa 
pe-ta-kek,  a-que-year  tak-pa-she-qui  a-to-ta-mo-wat, 
chi-ye-tuk  he-ne  cha-wai-chi  he-ni-nan  ke-o-chi-ta  mow- 
ta-swee-pai  che-qua-que. 

He-ni-cha-hai  poi-kai-nen  na-na-so-si-yen,  ai  o-sa>ke- 
we-yen,  ke-pe-me-kai-mi-kat  hai-nen  hac-yki  na-na-co 
si-peu,  nen-a-kai-ne-co-ten  ne-co-ten  ne-ka  chi-a-quoi 
ne-me-cok  me-to-sai  ne-ne-wak-kai  ne-wc-yen-nen,  kai- 
shai  ma-ni-to'ke  ka-to-me-nak  ke-wa-sai  he-co-wai  mi- 
a-me,  ka-chi  pai-ko-tai-hear-pe  kai-cee  wa-wa-kia  he- 
pe  ha-pe-nach-he-cha,  na-na-ke-na-way  ni-taain  ai  we- 
pa-he-wea  to-to-na  ca,  ke-to-ta-we-yeak,  he-nok  mia- 
ni  ai  she-ke-ta  ma-ke-si-yen,  nen-a-kp.i  na-co-ten  ne-ka- 
he-nen  6-ta-quois,  wa-toi-na-ka  che-ma-ke-keu  na-ta- 
che  tai-hai-ken  ai  mo-co-man  ye-we-yeu  ke-to-tow6, 
E-nok  ma-ni-hai  she-ka-ta-ma  k:  si-yen,  wen-e-cha-hai 
nai-ne-mak,  mai-ko-ten  ke-ka-cha  ma-men-na-tuk  we- 
yow6,  keu-ke-nok  ai  she-me  ma-na-ni  ta-men-ke-yow6. 
MA-KA-TAI-ME-SHE-KIA-KIAK. 

Ma-taus-we  Ki-sis,  1833. 


t> 


Iff-. 


*.i   '>;o 


fi 


•<Kl' 


[translation.] 

DEDICATION. 

TO  BRIGADIER  GEN'L.  H.  ATKINSON. 

Sir, — The  changes  of  fortune,  and  vicissitudes  of 
war,  made  you  my  conqueror.  When  my  last  resour- 
ces were  exhausted,  my  warriors  worn  down  with  long 
and  toilsome  marches,  we  yielded,  and  I  became  your 
prisoner. 

The  story  of  my  life  is  told  in  the  following  pages; 
it  is  intimately  connected,  and  in  some  measure,  iden- 
tified with  a  part  of  the  history  of  your  own :  I  have, 
therefore,  dedicated  it  to  you. 

The  changes  of  many  summers,  have  brought  old 
age  upon  me, — and  I  cannot  expect  to  survive  many 
moons.  Before  I  set  out  on  my  journey  to  the  land  of 
my  fathers,  I  have  determined  to  give  my  motives  and 
reasons  for  my  former  hostilities  to  the  whites,  and  to 
vindicate  my  character  from  misrepresentation.  The 
kindness  I  received  from  you  whilst  a  prisoner  of  war. 


A 


■«■■ 


^m 


mm 


•  •« 

vni 


DBDICATION. 


assures  me  that  jou  will  vouch  for  the  facts  contained 
in  my  narrative^  so  far  as  they  came  under  your  obser- 
vation. 

I  am  now  an  obscure  member  of  a  nation,  that  for- 
merly honored  and  respected  my  opinions.  The  path 
to  glory  is  rough,  and  many  gloomy  hours  obscure  it. 
May  the  Great  Spirit  shed  light  on  your's — and  that 
you  may  never  experience  the  humility  that  the  power 
of  the  American  government  has  reduced  me  to,  is  the 
wish  of  him,  who,  in  his  native  forests,  was  once  as 
proud  and  bold  as  yourself. 

BLACK  HAWK. 

10/A  ^oon,  1833. 


vm 


jk»« 


ADVERTISEMENT. 


It  is  presumed  no  apology  will  be  required  for  pre- 
senting to  the  public  the  life  of  a  Hero,  who  has  lately 
taken  such  high  rank  among  the  distinguished  individ- 
uals of  America.  In  the  following  pages  he  will  be 
seen  in  the  characters  of  a  Warrior,  a  Patriot,  and  a 
State  Prisoner.  In  every  situation  he  is  still  the  Chief 
of  his  Band,  asserting  their  rights  with  dignity^  firm- 
ness and  courage.  Several  accounts  of  the  late  war 
having  been  published,  in  which  he  thinks  justice  is 
not  done  to  himself  or  nation,  he  determined  to  make 
known  to  the  world,  the  injuries  his  people  have  re- 
ceived from  the  whites — the  causes  which  brought  on 
the  war  on  the  part  of  his  nation,  and  a  general  history 
of  it  throughout  the  ca^npaign.  In  his  opinion,  this 
is  the  only  method  now   left  him,  to  rescue  his  little 


I 


i 


€ 


*'., 


ijmwtUffif, 


^mmmrmmm 


I 


X  ADVBRTBBBMBrrT. 

Band — the  remnant  of  those  who  fought  bravely  wil^h 
him — ^from  the  effects  of  the  statements  that  have 
already  gone  forth. 

The  facts  which  he  states,  respecting  the  treaty  of 
1804,  in  virtue  of  the  provisions  of  which  Government 
claimed  the  country  in  dispute,  and  enforced  its  argu- 
ments with  the  sword,  are  worthy  of  attention.  It  pur- 
ported to  cede  to  the  United  States,  all  the  country, 
including  the  village  and  corn  fields  of  Black  Hawk 
and  his  band,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Mississippi. 
Four  individuals  of  the  tribe,  who  were  on  a  visit  to 
St  Louis  to  obtain  the  liberation  of  one  of  their  peo- 
ple from  prison,  were  prevailed  upon,  (says  Black 
Hs^kj)  to  !sake  this  important  treaty.  withQut  the 
knowledge  or  authority  of  the  tribes  or  nation. 

In  treating  with  the  Indians  for  their  country,  it  has 
always  been  customary  to  assemble  the  whole  nation ; 
because,  as  has  been  truly  suggested  by  the  Secretary 
of  War,  the  nature  of  the  authority  of  the  chiefs  of  a 
tribe  is  such,  that  it  is  not  often  that  they  dare  make 
a  treaty  of  much  consequence, — and  we  might  add, 
never,  when  involving  so  much  magnitude  as  the  one 
under  consideration,  without  the  presence  of  their 
young  men.  A  rule  so  reasonable  and  just,  ought  never 
to  be  violated — and  the  Indians  might  well  question 


ii.'-iit; 


ADVERTI8BMENT. 


XI 


the  right  of  government  to  dispossess  them,  when  such 
violation  was  made  the  hasis  of  its  right. 

The  editor  has  written  this  work  according  to  the 
dictation  of  Black  Hawk,  through  the  United  States' 
Interpreter,  at  the  Sac  and  Fox  Agency  of  Rock 
Island.  He  does  not,  therefore,  consider  himself  re- 
sponsible for  any  of  the  facts,  or  views  contained  in  it — 
and  leaves  the  old  Chief  and  his  story  with  the  public, 
whilst  he  neither  asks,  nor  expects  any  fame  for  his 

services  as  an  amanuensis. 

THE  EDITOR. 


m 


f 


-# 


Vi. 


:li  :.  -'^i: 


LIFE  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


I  WAS  born  at  the  Sac  Village,  on  Rock  river,  in  the 
jear  1767,  and  am  now  in  my  67th  year.  My  great 
grandfather,  Na-na-ma-kee,  or  Thunder,  (according 
to  the  tradition  given  me  by  my  father,  Py-e-sa,)  was 
born  in  the  vicinity  of  Montreal,  where  the  Great  Spi- 
rit first  placed  the  Sac  Nation,  and  inspired  him  with 
a  belief  that,  at  the  end  of  four  years,  he  should  see  a 
vahite  man,  who  would  be  to  him  a  father.  Conse- 
quently he  blacked  his  face,  and  eat  but  once  a  day, 
(just  as  the  sun  was  going  down,)  for  three  years,  and 
continued  dreaming  throughout  all  this  time  whenever 
he  slept — when  the  Great  Spirit  again  appeared  to 
him,  and  told  him,  that,  at  the  eud  of  one  year  more, 
he  shr.jld  meet  his  father, — and  directed  him  to  start 
seven  days  before  its  expiration,  and  take  with  him  his 
two  brothers  Ka-mah  or  Sturgeon,  and  Pawka-humrma' 
v»a  or  Sun  Fish,  and  travel  in  a  direction  to  the  left  of 
siuirising.    After  pursuing  this  course  five  days,  he  sent 

9 


14 


UFB  OF  BLACK  HAIWK. 


out  his  two  brothers  to  listen  if  they  could  hear  a 
noise,  and  if  so,  to  fasten  some  grass  to  the  end  of  a 
pole,  erect  it,  pointing  in  the  direction  of  the  sound, 
and  then  return  to  him. 

Early  next  morning  they  returned,  and  reported  that 
they  had  heard  sounds  which  appeared  near  at  hand, 
and  that  they  had  fulfilled  his  order.  They  all  then 
started  for  the  place  where  the  pole  had  been  erected; 
when,  on  reaching  it,  Na-na-ma-kee  left  his  party, 
and  went  alone  to  the  place  from  whence  the  sounds 
proceeded,  and  found  that  the  white  man  had  arrived 
and  pitched  his  tent.  When  he  came  in  sight,  his 
father  came  out  to  meet  him.  He  took  him  by  the 
hand,  and  welcomed  him  into  his  tent.  He  told  him 
that  he  was  the  son  of  the  King  of  France- — that  he 
had  been  dreaming  for  four  years — that  the  Great  Spirit 
had  directed  him  to  come  here,  where  he  should  meet 
a  nation  of  people  who  had  never  yet  seen  a  white 
man — that  they  should  be  his  children,  and  he  should 
be  their  father — that  he  had  communicated  these 
things  to  the  King,  his  father,  who  laughed  at  him,  and 
called  him  a  Ma-she-na — but  he  insisted  on  coming 
here  to  meet  his  children,  where  the  Great  Spirit  had 
directed  him.  The  King  told  him  that  he  would  neith- 
er find  land  nor  people — that  this  was  an  uninhabited 
region  of  lakes  arid  mountains;  but  finding  that  he 
would  have  no  peace  without  it,  fitted  out  a  na-pe-qua, 
manned  it,  and  gave  it  to  him  in  charge,  when  he  im- 
mediately loaded  ii,  set  sail,  and  had  now  landed  on 


M 


LIFE  OF  BLACK  HA.WK. 


15 


the  very  day  that  the  Great  Spirit  had  told  him,  in  his 
dreams,  he  should  meet  his  children.  He  had  now 
met  the  man,  who  should,  in  future,  have  charge  of 
all  the  nation. 

He  then  presented  him  with  a  medal,  which  he  hung 
round  his  neck.  Na-na-ma-kec  informed  him  of  his 
dreaming — and  told  him  that  his  two  brothers  remained 
a  little  ways  behind.  His  father  gave  him  a  shirt, 
blanket,  and  handkerchief,  besides  a  variety  of  presents, 
and  told  him  to  go  and  bring  his  brothers.  Having 
laid  aside  his  buffalo  robe,  and  dressed  himself  in  his 
new  dress,  he  started  to  meet  his  brethren.  When 
they  met,  he  explained  to  them  his  meeting  with  the 
white  man,  anu  exhibited  to  their  view  the  presents 
that  he  had  made  him — took  off  his  medal,  and  placed 
it  upon  Nah-ma,  his  elder  brother,  and  requested  them 
both  to  go  with  him  to  his  father.  They  proceeded 
thither — were  ushered  into  the  tent,  and  after  some 
brief  ceremony,  his  father  opened  his  chest  and  took 
I  presents  therefrom  for  the  new  comers.  He  discovered 
that  Na-na-ma-kee  had  given  his  medal  to  Nah-ma. 
He  told  him  that  he  had  done  wrong — he  should  wear 
that  medal  himself,  as  he  had  others  for  his  brethren: 
That  which  he  had  given  him  was  a  type  o£  the  rank 
he  should  hold  in  the  nation:  That  his  brothers  could 
only  rank  as  civil  chiefs — and  their  duties  should  consist 
of  taking  care  of  t!ie  village,  and  attending  to  its 
civil  concerns — whilst  his  rank,  from  his  superior  knowl- 
edge, placed  him  over  them  all.    If  the  nation  geto 


16 


LIFE  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


:  ^ 


into  any  difficulty  with  another,  then  his  puc-co-ha-wa- 
ma,  or  sovereign  decree,  must  be  obeyed.  If  he  de- 
clared war,  he  must  lead  them  on  to  battle:  That  the 
Great  Spirit  had  made  him  a  great  and  brave  general, 
and  had  sent  him  here  to  give  him  that  medal,  and 
make  presents  to  him  for  his  people. 

His  father  remained  four  days — during  which  time 
he  gave  him  guns,  powder  and  lead,  spears  and  lances, 
and  showed  him  their  use — so  that  in  war  he  could 
chastirse  his  enemies — and  in  peace  they  could  kill 
buffalo, deer,  and  other  game,  necessary  for  the  comforts 
and  luxuries  of  life.  He  then  presented  the  others 
with  various  kinds  of  cooking  utensil.,  and  learned 
them  their  uses — and  having  given  them  a  large  quan- 
tity of  goods,  as  presents,  and  every  other  thing  neces- 
sary for  their  comfort,  he  set  sail  for  France,  after 
promising  to  meet  them  again,  at  the  same  place  after 
the  twelfth  moon. 

The  three  newly-made  chiefs  returned  to  their  vil- 
lage, and  explained  to  Muk-a-ta-quet,  their  father, 
who  was  the  principal  chief  of  the  nation,  whit  had 
been  said  and  done.  The  old  chief  had  some  dogs 
killed,  and  made  a  feast,  preparatory  to  resigning 
his  sceptre,  to  which  all  the  nation  were  invited.  Great 
anxiety  prevailed  among  them,  to  know  what  the  three 
brothers  had  seen  and  heard — when  the  old  chief  rose, 
and  related  to  them  the  sayings  and  doings  of  his  three 
sons;  and  concluded  by  observing,  that  Hhe  Great 
Spirit  had  directed   that   these,  his  three  children, 


LIFE  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


17 


should  take  the  rank  and  power  that  had  heon  his — 
and  that  he  yielded  these  honors  and  duties  willingly 
to  them — because  it  was  the  wish  of  the  Great  Spirit, 
and  he  could  never  consent  to  make  him  angry?'  He 
now  presented  the  great  medicine  bag  to  Na-na-ma- 
kee,  and  told  him,  '  that  he  cheerfully  resigned  it  to 
him — it  is  the  soul  of  our  nation — it  has  never  yet  been 
disgraced — and  I  will  expect  you  to  keep  it  unsullied  T 

Some  dissension  arose  among  some  of  them,  in  con- 
sequenc3  of  so  much  power  being  given  to  Na-na-ma- 
kee,  he  being  so  young  a  man.  To  quiet  this,  Na-nii- 
ma-kee,  during  a  violent  thunder  storm,  told  them  that 
he  had  caused  it!  and  that  it  was  an  exemplification  of 
the  name  the  Great  Spirit  had  given  him.  During  this 
storm,  the  lightning  struck,  and  set  fire  to  a  tree,  close 
hy;  (a  sight  they  had  never  witnessed  before.)  He 
went  to  it,  and  brought  away  some  of  its  burning 
branches,  made  a  fire  in  the  lodge,  and  seated  his 
brothers  thereby,  opposite  to  each  other;  whilst  he 
stood  up,  and  addressed  his  people  as  follows: 

'^I  am  yet  young — but  the  Great  Spirit  has  called 
m^  to  the  rank  I  now  hold  among  you.  I  have  never 
sought  to  be  anything  more  than  my  birth  entitled 
me.  I  have  not  been  ambitious — nor  was  it  ever  my 
wish,  whilst  my  father  lives,  to  have  taken  his  place — 
nor  have  I  now  usurped  his  powers.  The  Great  Spirit 
caused  me  to  dream  for  four  years — ^he  told  me  where 
to  go  and  meet  the  white  man,  who  would  be  a  kind 
fti^the^  to  us  all.     I  obeyed  his  order.    I  went,  and 

*2  •  '    ■ 


18 


LIFB   OF   BLACK   HAWK* 


have  seen  our  new  father.  You  have  all  heard  what 
was  said  and  done.  The  Great  Spirit  directed  him 
to  come  and  meet  me,  and  it  is  his  order  that  places 
me  at  the  head  of  my  nation — the  place  which  my 
father  has  willingly  resigned. 

'  You  have  all  witnessed  the  power  which  has  heen 
given  to  me  by  the  Great  Spirit,  in  making  that  fire — 
and  all  that  I  now  ask  is,  that  these,  my  two  chiefs,  may 
never  let  it  go  out:  That  they  preserve  peace  among 
you,  and  administer  to  the  wants  of  the  needy:  And, 
should  an  enemy  invade  our  country,  I  will  then,  but 
not  until  then,  assume  command,  and  go  forth  with  my 
band  of  brave  warriors,  and  endeavor  to  chastise  them  I' 
At  the  conclusion  of  this  speed),  every  voice  cried 
out  for  Na-na-ma-kee !  All  were  satisfied,  when  they 
found  that  the  Great  Spirit  had  done  what  they  had 
suspected  was  the  work  of  Na-na-ma-kee,  he  being  a 
very  shrewd  young  man. 

The  next  spring,  according  to  promise,  their  French 
father  returned,  with  his  na-pe-qua  richly  laden  with 
goods,  which  were  distributed  among  them.  He  con- 
tinued for  a  long  time  to  keep  up  a  regular  trade  with 
them — they  giving  him  in  exchange  for  his  goods,  furs 
and  peltries.  ,  : 

-^  After  a  long  time  the  British  overpowered  the 
French,  (the  two  nations  being  at  war,)  drove  them 
away  from  Quebec,  and  took  possession  of  it  themselves. 
The  different  tribes  of  Indians  around  ou^r  nation, 
envying   our    people,   united    their    forces ;  ag^ijaat 


■iMMMt^^MMi 


LIFB  OF  BLACK  UAWK. 


19 


leard  what 
ected  him 
:hat  places 
which  my 

1  has  been 
that  fire — 
ihiefs,  may 
ice  among 
dy:  And, 
then,  but 
ti  with  my 
ise  theml' 
)ice  cried 
vhen  they 
they  had 
being  a 

r  French 
den  with 
He  con- 
ide  with 
>ods,  furs 

|red  tbe 
fe  them 
tselves* 
nation , 
lag^kimst 


I 


% 


I 


them,  and  succeeded,  by  their  great  strength,  to  drive 
them  to  Montreal,  and  from  thence  to  Mackinac. 
Here  our  people  first  met  our  British  father,  who  fur- 
nished them  with  goods.     Their  enemies  still  pursued 
them,  and  drove  them  to  different  places  on  the  lake, 
until  they  made  a  village  near  Green  Bay,  on  what  is 
now  called  5ac  river,  having  derived  its  nL,ne  from  this 
circumstance.     Here  they  held  a  council  with  the 
Foxes,  and  a  national  treaty  of  friendship  and  alliance 
was  concluded  upon.    The   Foxes  abandoned   their 
village,  and  joined  the  Sacs.     This  arrangement  being 
mutually  obligatory  upon  both  parties,  as  neither  were 
sufficiently  strong  to  meet  their  enemies  with  any  hope 
of  success,  they  soon  became  as  one  band  or  nation  of 
people.     They  were  driven,  hoiyever,  by  the  combined 
forces  of  their  enemies,  to  the  Ouisconsin.     They  re- 
mained here  some  time,  until  a  party  of  their  young 
men,  (who  had  descended  Rock  river  to  its  mouth.) 
returned,  and  made  a  favorable  report  of  the  country. 
They  all  descended  Rock  river — drove  the  Kaskas- 
kias  from  the  country,  and  commenced  the  erection  of 
their  village,  determined  never  to  leave  it. 

At  this  village  I  was  born,  being  a  regular  descen- 
dant of  the  first  chief,  Na-na-ma-kee,  or  Thunder. 
Few,  if  any,  events  of  note,  transpired  within  my  recol- 
lection, till  about  my  fifteenth  year.  I  was  not  allow- 
ed to  paint,  or  wear  feathers;  but  distinguished  myself, 
at  that  early  age,  by  wounding  an  enemy;  consequent- 
ly, I  was  placed  in  the  ranks  of  the  Bravest 


20 


LIVE  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


Soon  after  this,  a  leading  chief  of  the  Muscow  na- 
tion, came  to  our  village  for  recruits  to  go  to  war 
against  the  Osages,  (ur  common  enemy.  I  volunteer- 
ed my  services  to  go,  as  my  father  had  joined  him;  and 
was  proud  to  have  an  opportunity  to  prove  to  him  that 
I  was  not  an  unworthy  son,  and  that  I  had  courage  and 
bravery.  It  was  not  long  before  we  met  the  enemy, 
when  a  battle  immediately  ensued.  Standing  by  my 
father's  side,  I  saw  him  kill  his  antagonist,  and  tear  the 
scalp  from  his  head.  Fired  with  valor  and  ambition, 
I  rushed  furiously  upon  another,  smote  him  to  the  earth 
with  my  tomahawk — run  my  lance  through  his  body — 
took  off  his  scalp,  and  returned  in  triumph  to  my  father! 
He  said  nothing,  but  looked  pleased.  This  was  the 
first  man  1  killed !  The  enemy's  loss  in  this  engage- 
ment having  been  great,  they  immediately  retreated, 
which  put  an  end  to  the  war  for  the  present.  Our 
party  then  returned  to  our  village,  and  danced  over 
the  scalps  we  had  taken.  This  was  the  first  time  that 
I  was  permitted  to  join  in  a  scalp-dance. 

After  a  few  moons  had  passed,  (having  acquired  con- 
siderable fame  as  a  brcne,)  I  led  a  p^irty  of  seven,  and 
attacked  one  hundred  Osages!  1  killed  one  man,  and 
left  him  for  my  comrades  to  scalp,  whilst  I  was  taking 
an  observation  of  the  strength  and  preparations  of  the 
enemy;  and  finding  that  they  were  all  equally  well 
atnned  with  ourselves,  I  ordered  a  retreat,  and  came  off 
without  losing  a  man !  This  excursion  gained  for  me 
great  applause,  and  enabled  me,  before  a  great  while. 


LIFE  OF   BLACK   HAWK. 


St 


Muscow  na- 
'  go  to  war 
I  volunteer- 
sdhim;  and 

to  him  that 
courage  and 

the  enemy, 
iding  by  my 
ind  tear  the 
>d  ambition, 
to  the  earth 
I  his  body — 
)  my  father  I 
lis  was  the 
his  engage- 
7  retreated, 
sent.  Our 
anced  over 
St  time  that 

quired  con- 
seven,  and 
man,  and 
was  taking 
tions  of  the 
[ually  well 
d  came  off 
led  for  me 
-eat  while, 


to  raise  a  party  of  one  hundred  and  eighty,  to  go 
against  the  Osages.  We  left  our  village  in  high  spir- 
its, and  marched  over  a  rugged  country,  until  we 
reached  that  of  the  Osages,  on  the  Missouri.  We  fol- 
lowed their  trail  until  we  arrived  at  their  village,  which 
we  approached  with  great  caution,  expecting  that  they 
were  all  there;  but  found,  to  our  sorrow,  that  they  had 
deserted  it!  The  party  became  dissatisfied,  in  conse- 
quence of  this  disappointment, — and  all,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  ^V6,  dispersed  und  returned  home.  I  then 
placed  myself  at  the  head  of  this  brave  little  band,  and 
thanked  the  Great  Spirit  that  so  many  remained — and 
took  up  the  trail  of  our  enemies,  with  a  fuK  determina- 
tion never  to  return  without  some  trophy  of  victory! 
We  followed  on  for  several  days — killed  one  man  and 
a  boy,  and  then  returned  with  their  scalps. 

In  consequence  of  this  mutiny  in  my  camp,  I  was 
not  again  enabled  to  raise  a  sufficient  party  to  go 
against  the  Osages,  until  about  my  nineteenth  year. 
During  this  interim,  they  committed  many  outrages  on 
our  nation  and  people.  I  succeeded  at  length,  in  re- 
cruiting two  hundred  efficient  warriors,  and  took  up 
the  line  of  march  early  in  the  morning.  In  a  few  days 
we  were  in  the  enemy's  country,  and  had  not  travelled 
far  before  we  met  an  equal  force  to  contend  with.  A 
general  battle  immediately  commenced,  although  my 
braves  were  considerably  fatigued  by  forced  marches. 
Each  party  fought  desperately.  The  enemy  seemed 
unwilling  to  yield  the  ground,  and  we  were  determined 


k?.':.^i^<<uQkt>.,  '.  -Aiu4^'.,'  .'.-  .u.  .^r-i! -£tisuA  t 


22 


LIFE  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


. 


,rl!  ! 


to  conquer  or  die!  A  large  number  of  the  Osages 
were  killed,  and  many  wounded,  before  they  commen- 
ced retreating.  A  band  of  warriors  more  brave,  skil- 
ful and  efficient  than  mine,  could  not  be  found.  In 
this  engagement  I  killed  five  men  and  one  squaw,  and 
had  the  good  fortune  to  take  the  scalps  of  all  I  struck, 
except  one.  The  enemy's  loss  in  this  engagement  was 
about  one  hundred  men.  Ours  nineteen.  We  now 
returned  to  our  village,  well  pleased  with  our  success^ 
and  danced  over  the  scalps  we  had  taken. 

The  Osages,  in  consequence  of  their  great  loss  in  this 
battle,  became  satisfied  to  remain  on  their  own  lands; 
and  ceased,  for  awhile,  their  depredations  on  our  na- 
tion. Our  attention,  therefore,  was  directed  towards 
an  ancient  enemy,  who  had  decoyed  and  murdered 
some  of  our  helpless  women  and  children.  I  started, 
with  my  father,  who  took  command  of  a  small  party, 
and  proceeded  against  the  enemy.  We  met  near 
Merimack,  and  an  action  ensued,  the  Cherokees  having 
greatly  the  advantage  in  numbers.  Early  in  this  en- 
gagement my  father  was  wounded  in  the  thigh — but 
had  the  pleasure  of  killing  his  antagonist  before  he  fell. 
Seeing  that  he  had  fallen,  I  assumed  command,  and 
fought  desperately,  until  the  enemy  commenced  re- 
treating before  us.  I  returned  to  my  father  to  admin- 
ister to  his  necessities,  but  nothing  could  be  done  for 
him.  The  medicine  man  said  the  wound  was  mortal! 
from  which  he  soon  after  died!    In  this  battle  I  killed 


\ 


tsn  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


23 


e  Osages 
commen- 
rave,  skil- 
»und.  In 
|uaw,  and 
1 1  struck, 
ment  was 
We  now 
r  success, 

OSS  in  this 
i^n  lands; 
n  our  na- 
l  towards 
nurdered 
[  started, 
ill  party, 
let  near 
IS  having 
this  en- 
h — but 
he  fell, 
nd,  and 
ced  re- 
admin- 
one  for 
mortal! 
kiUed 


■«■■ 


three  men,  and  wounded  seyeral.    The  enemy's  loss 
being  twenty-eight,  and  ours  seven. 

I  DOW  fell  heir  to  the  great  medicine  bag  of  my  fore- 
fathers, which  had  belonged  to  my  father.  I  took  it, 
buried  our  dead,  and  returned  with  my  party,  all  sad 
and  sorrowful,  to  our  village,  in  consequence  of  the  loss 
of  my  father.  Owing  to  this  misfortune,  I  blacked  my 
face,  fasted,  and  prayed  to  the  Great  Spirit  for  five 
years— during  which  time  I  remained  in  a  civil  capa- 
city, huntin  ^  and  fishing. 

The  Osages  having  commenced  aggressions  on  our 
people,  and  the  Great  Spirit  having  taken  pity  on  roe, 
I  took  a  small  party  and  went  against  the  enemy,  but 
could  only  find  six  men?  Their  forges  being  so  weak, 
I  thought  it  cowardly  to  kill  them — but  took  them  prit- 
oners,  and  carried  them  to  our  Spanish  father  at  St 
Louis,  and  gave  them  up  to  him;  and  then  returned  to 
our  village.  Determined  on  the  final  extermination  of 
the  Osages,  for  the  injuries  our  nation  and  people  had 
received  from  them,  I  commenced  recruiting  a  strong 
force,  immediately  on  my  return,  and  started,  in  the 
third  moon,  with  five  hundred  Sacs  and  Foxes,  and  one 
hundred  loways,  and  marched  against  the  enemy* 
We  continued  our  march  for  several  days  before  we 
came  upon  their  trail,  which  was  discovered  late  in  the 
day.  We  encamped  for  the  night;  made  an  early 
start  next  morning,  and  before  sundown,  fell  upon^br^ 
lodges,  and  killed  all  their  inhabitants,  except  two 
tqwms!  whom  I  captured  and  made  prisoners.    Du- 


m 


24 


LIFB  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


ring  this  attack  I  killed  seven  men  and  two  boys,  with 
my  own  hand. 

.  In  this  engagement  majny  of  the  bravest  warriors 
among  the  Osages  were  killed,  which  caused  the  bal- 
ance of  their  nation  to  remain  on  their  own  lands,  and 
cease  their  aggressions  upon  our  hunting  grounds.     ^ 

The  loss  of  my  father,  by  the  Cherokees,  made  me 
anxious  to  avenge  his  death,  by  the  annihilation,  if 
possible,  of  all  their  race. .  I  accordingly  commenced 
recruiting  another  party  to  go  against  them.  Having 
succeeded  in  this,  I  started,  with  my  party,  and  went 
into  their  country,  but  only  found  five  of  their  people, 
whom  I  took  prisoners.  I  afterwards  released  four 
men — the  other,  a  young  squaw,  we  brought  home. 
Great  as  was  my  hatred  for  this  people,  I  could  not 
kill  so  small  a  party. 

During  the  close  of  the  ninth  moon,  I  led  a  large 
party  against  the  Chippewas,  Kaskaskiai  and  Osages. 
This  was  the  commencement  of  a  long  and  arduous 
campaign,  which  terminated  in  my  thirty-fifth  year: 
Having  had  seven  regular  engagements,  and  a  number 
of  small  skirmishes.  During  this  campaign,  several 
hundred  of  the  enemy  were  slain.  I  killed  thirteen  of 
their  bravest  warriors,  with  my  own  hand. 

Our  enemies  having  now  been  driven  from  our  hunt- 
ing grounds,  with  so  great  a  loss  as  they  sustained,  we 
returned  in  peace, to  our  villages;  and  after  the  seasons 
of  mourning  and  burying  our  dead  relations,  and  of  feast^ 


¥| 


I 


LIFB  OF   BLACK   HAWK. 


35 


I 


i 


dancing  had  passed,  we  commenced  preparations  for 
our  winter's  hunt,  in  which  we  were  very  successful. 

We  generally  paid  a  visit  to  St.  Louis  every  sum- 
mer; but,  in  consequence  of  the  protracted  war  in 
which  we  had  been  engaged,  I  had  not  been  there  for 
some  years.  Our  difficulties  having  all  been  settled,  I 
concluded  to  take  a  small  party,  that  summer,  and  go 
down  to  see  our  Spanish  father.  We  went — and  on 
our  arrival,  put  up  our  lodges  where  the  market-house 
now  stands.  After  painting  and  dressing,  we  called 
to  see  our  Spanish  father,  and  were  well  received.  He 
gave  us  a  variety  of  presents,  and  plenty  of  provisions. 
We  danced  through  the  town  as  usual,  and  its  inhabi- 
tants all  seemed  to  be  well  pleased.  They  appeared 
to  us  like  brothers — and  always  gave  us  good  advice. 

On  my  next,  aiid  last  visit  to  my  Spanish  father,  I 
discovered,  on  landing,  that  all  was  not  right:  every 
countenance  seemed  sad  and  gloomy!  I  inquired  the 
cause,  and  was  informed  that  the  Americans  were  com- 
ing to  take  possession  of  the  town  and  country! — and 
that  we  should  then  lose  our  Spanish  father!  This 
news  made  myg'ilf  and  band  sad — because  we  had 
always  heard  bad'  accounts  of  the  Americans  from 
Indians  who  had  lived  near  them! — and  we  were 
sorry  to  lose  our  Spanish  father,  who  had  always  treated 
us  with  great  friendship.  ^.  >  - 

\  few  days  afterwards,  the  Americans  arrived,  I 
took  my  band,  and  went  to  take  leave,  for  the  last 


'5f- 


26 


LIFE  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


time,  of  our  father.  The  Americans  came  to  see  him 
also.  Seeing  them  approach,  we  passed  out  at  one 
door,  as  they  entered  another — and  immediately  start- 
ed, in  canoes,  for  our  village,  on  Rock  river — not  liking 
the  change  any  more  than  our  friends  appeared  to,  at 
St.  Lcuis. 

On  arriving  at  our  village,  we  gave  the  news,  that 
strange  people  had  taken  St.  Louis — and  that  we 
should  never  see  our  Spanish  father  again!  This  in- 
formation made  all  our  people  sorry ! 

Some  time  afterwards,  a  boat  came  up  the  river, 
with  a  young  American  chief,  [Lieutenant  (after- 
wards General)  Pike,]  and  a  small  party  of  soldiers. 
We  heard  of  him,  (by  runners,)  soon  after  he  had  pass- 
ed Salt  river.  Some  of  our  young  braves  watched  him 
every  day,  to  see  what  sort  of  people  he  had  on  board! 
The  boat,  at  length,  arrived  at  Rock  river,  and  the 
young  chief  came  on  shore  with  his  interpreter — ^made 
a  speech,  and  gave  us  some  presents!  We,  in  return, 
presented  him  with  meat,  and  such  provisions  as  we 
could  spare.    . 

We  were  all  well  pleased  with  the  speech  of  the 
young  chief.  He  gave  us  good  advice;  said  our  Amer- 
ican father  would  treat  us  well.  He  presented  us  an 
American  flag,  which  was  hoisted.  He  then  requested 
us  to  pull  down  our  British  flags, — and  give  him  our 
British  medals — ^promising  to  send  us  others  on  hi« 
return  to  St.  Louis.  This  we  declined,  as  we  wished 
to  have  two  Fathers! 


1 


■# 


LEFE  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


27 


e  to  see  him 
1  out  at  one 
liately  start- 
— not  liking 
>eared  to,  at 

e  news,  that 
id  that  we 
i\    This  in- 

p  the  river, 

lant   (afler- 

of  soldiers. 

le  had  pass- 

ratched  him 

d  on  board! 

er,  and  the 

ter — ^made 

,  in  return, 

ions  as  we 

ich  of  the 

lour  Amer- 

ited  us  an 

requested 
le  him  our 
^rs  on  hii 

re  wished 


When  the  young  chief  started,  we  sent  runners  to 
f  the  Fox  village,  some  miles  distant,  to  direct  them  to 
I  treat  him  well  as  he  passed — which  they  did.  He 
f  went  to  the  head  of  the  Mississippi,  and  then  returned 
to  St.  Louis.  We  did  not  see  any  Americans  again, 
Jfbrsome  time — being  supplied  with  goods  by  British 
'^l  traders. 

ii  We  were  fortunate  in  not  giving  up  our  medals — 
[for  Wo  learned  afterwards,  from  our  traders,  that  the 
i chiefs  high  up  on  the  Mississippi,  who  gave  theirs, 
[never  received  any  in  exchange  for  them.  But  the 
[fault  was  not  with  the  young  American  chief.  He  was 
I  a  good  man,  and  a  great  brave — and  died  in  his 
|Country's  service. 

Some  moons  after  this  young  chief  descended  the 
Mississippi,  one  of  our  people  killed  an  American — 
|and  was  confined,  in  the  prison  at  St.  Louis,  for  the 
|offence.  We  held  a  council  at  our  village  to  see  what 
|could  be  done  for  him — which  determined  that  Quash- 
^qua^me,  Po-she-pa-ho,  0(i-che-qua-ka,  and  Ha-she-quar- 
|hi-qua,  should  go  down  to  St.  Louis,  see  our  American 
||iather,and  do  all  they  could  to  have  our  friend  released : 
;^by  paying  for  the  person  killed — thus  covering  the 
Iblood,  and  satisfying  the  relations  of  the  man  murdered! 
This  being  the  only  means  with  us  of  saving  a  person 
who  had  killed  another — and  we  then  thought  it  was 
[the  same  way  with  the  whites! 

The  party  started  with  the  good  wishes  of  the  whole 


UFB  OF  BLACK  HAW|C. 


nation — hoping  they  would  accomplish  the  object  of 
their  mission.  The  relatives  of  the  prisoner  blacked 
their  faces,  and  fasted — hoping  the  Great  Spirit  would 
take  pity  on  them,  and  return  the  husband  and  father 
to  his  wife  and  children. 

Quash-qua-me  and  party  remained  a  long  time  ab- 
sent. They  at  length  returned,  and  encamped  a  short 
distance  below  the  village — but  did  not  come  up  that 
day — nor  did  any  person  approach  their  camp!  They 
appeared  to  be  dressed  in  fine  coats,  and  had  medals! 
From  these  circumstances,  we  were  in  hopes  that  they 
had  brought  good  news.  Early  the  next  morning,  the 
Council  Lodge  was  crowded — Quash-qua-me  and  party 
came  up,  and  gave  us  the  following  account  of  their 
mission : 

*  On  their  arrival  at  St.  Louis,  they  met  their  Amer- 
ican father,  and  explained  to  him  their  business,  and 
urged  the  release  of  their  friend.  The  American  chief 
told  them  he  wanted  land — and  they  had  agreed  to 
give  him  some  on  the  west  side  of  the  Mississippi,  and 
some  on  the  Illinois  side  opposite  the  Jeffreon.  When 
the  business  was  all  arranged,  they  expected  to  have 
their  friend  released  to  come  home  with  them.  But 
about  the  time  they  were  ready  to  start,  their 
friend  was  let  out  of  prison,  who  ran  a  short  distance, 
and  was  shot  dead!  This  is  all  they  could  recollect 
of  what  was  said  and  done.  They  had  been  drunk 
the  greater  part  of  the  time  they  were  in  St.  Louis*^ 


the  object  of 
>ner  blacked 
:  Spirit  would 
id  and  fa^er 

ong  time  ab- 
imped  a  short 
:oine  up  that 
amp!  They 
had  medah! 
pes  that  they 
morning,  the 
me  and  party 
)unt  of  their 

their  Amer- 
msiness,  and 
ledcan  chief 
agreed  to 
isissippi,  and 
eon.  When 
cted  to  have 

them.    But 

start,  their 
ort  distance, 
lid  recollect 

been  drunk 
St.  Louis*^ 


LIFE  OV  BLACK  HA.WK. 


99 


I 


This  is  all  myself  or  nation  knew  of  the  treaty  of 
1804.  It  has  been  explained  to  me  since.  I  find,  by 
that  treaty,  all  our  country,  east  of  the  Mississippi,  and 
south  of  the  Jefireon,  was  ceded  to  the  United  States 
for  one  thousand  dollars  a  year!  I  will  leave  it  to  the 
people  of  the  United  States  to  say,  whether  our  nation 
was  properly  represented  in  this  treaty?  or  whether 
we  received  a  fair  compensation  for  the  extent  of  coun- 
try ceded  by  those  four  individuals?  I  could  say  much 
about  this  treaty,  but  I  will  not,  at  this  time.  It  has 
been  the  origin  of  all  our  difficulties. 

Some  time  after  this  treaty  was  made,  a  war  chief, 
with  a  party  of  solaiers,  came  up  in  keel  boats,  and 
encamped  a  short  distance  above  the  head  of  the  Des 
Moines  rapids,  and  commenced  cuttmp;  timber  and 
building  houses.  The  news  of  their  arrival  was  soon 
carried  to  all  the  villages — when  council  after  council 
was  held.  We  could  not  understand  the  intention,  or 
reason,  why  the  Americans  wanted  to  build  houses  at 
that  place — but  were  told  that  they  wero  a  party  of 
soldiers,  who  had  brought  great  guns  witn  them — and 
looked  like  a  war  party  of  whites! 

A  number  of  our  people  immediately  went  down  to 
see  what  was  doing — myself  among  them.  On  our 
arrival,  we  found  they  were  building  a  fort!  The 
soldiers  were  busily  engaged  in  cutting  timber;  and  I 
observed  that  they  took  their  arms  with  them,  when 
they  went  to  the  woods — and  the  whole  party  acted 

*3 


..!.<!■■ 


30 


LIFE  OF  BLACK  HAWK« 


:v:i! 


as  they  would  do  in  an  enemy's  country !  The  chiefs 
held  a  council  with  the  officers,  or  head  men,  of  the 
party — which  I  did  not  att6nd-*-but  understood  from 
them  that  the  war  chief  had  said,  that  they  were  build- 
ing houses  for  a  trader^  who  was  coming  there  to  liye, 
and  would  sell  us  goods  very  cheap!  and  that  these  sol- 
diers were  to  remain  to  keep  him  company  1  We  were 
pleased  at  this  information,  and  hoped  it  was  all  true — 
but  we  could  not  believe  that  all  these  buildings  were 
intended  merely  for  the  accommodation  of  a  trader! 
Being  distrustful  of  their  intentions,  we  were  anxious 
for  them  to  leave  off  building,  and  go  down  the  river 
again.  By  this  time,  a  considerable  number  of  Indians 
had  arrived,  to  see  what  was  doing.  I  discovered  that 
the  whites  were  alarmed! 

Some  of  our  young  men  watched  a  party  of  soldiers, 
who  went  out  to  work,  carrying  their  arms — which 
were  laid  aside,  before  they  commenced.  Having 
stole  up  quietly  to  the  spot,  they  seized  the  guns  and 
gave  a  yell !  The  party  threw  down  their  axes,  and 
ran  for  their  arms,  but  found  them  gone !  and  themselves 
surrounded !  Our  young  men  laughed  at  them,  anu 
returned  them  their  guns.  **«  ^^ 

When  this  party  came  to  the  fort,  they  reported 
what  had  been  done,  and  the  war  chief  made  a  serious 
affair  of  it.  He  called  our  chiefs  to  council,  inside  of 
his  fort.  This  created  considerable  excitement  in  our 
camp — every  one  wanted  to  know  what  was  going 


a. 


^■x; 
^ 


■^ 


UFB  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


The  chiefs 
en,  of  the 
itood  from 
irere  build- 
re  to  liye, 
t  these  8ol- 
We  were 
all  true — 
lings  were 
'  a  trader  1 
re  anxious 
[1  the  river 
of  Indians 
»vered  that 

of  soldiers, 
ns — which 
Having 
i  guns  and 
'  axes,  and 
hemselves 
lem,  anu, 

reported 
e  a  serious 
,  inside  of 
ent  in  our 
vas  going 


to  be  done — ^and  the  picketing  which  had  been  put  up, 
being  low— -every  Indian  crowded  round  the  fort,  and 
got  upon  blocks  of  wood,  and  old  barrels,  that  they 
might  see  what  was  going  on  inside.  Some  were 
armed  with  guns,  and  others  with  bows  and  arrows. 
We  used  this  precaution,  seeing  that  the  soldiers  had 
their  guns  loaded — and  having  seen  them  load  their 
big  gun  that  morning! 

A  party  of  our  braves  commenced  dancing,  and 
proceeded  up  to  the  gate,  with  an  intention  of  going 
in,  but  were  stopped.  The  council  immediately 
broke  up — the  ooldiers,  with  their  arms  rn  their  hands,^ 
rushed  out  of  their  rooms,  where  they  had  been  con- 
cealed—the cannon  was  hauled  in  front  of  the  gate- 
way-^and  a  soldier  came  running  with  fire  in  his  hand, 
ready  to  apply  the  match.  Our  braves  gave  way,  and 
all  retired  to  the  camp. 

There  was  no  preconcerted  plan  to  attack  the 
whites  at  that  time — but  I  am  of  opinion  now,  had  our 
party  got  into  the  fort,  all  the  whites  would  have  been 
killed — as  the  British  soldiers  had  been  at  Mackinac 
many  years  before. 

We  broke  up  our  camp,  and  returned  to  Rock  river. 
A  short  time  afterwards,  the  fort  party  received  a  re- 
inforcement— among  whom  we  observed  some  of  our 
old  friends  from  St.  Louis. 

Soon  after  our  return  from  fort  Madison,  runner» 
came  to  our  village  from  the  Shawnee  Prophet,  (whilst 


'i^'4 


32 


UFE  OF  BLACK  HAWK« 


others  were  despatched  by  him  to  the  villages  of  the 
Winnebagoes,)  with  invitations  for  us  to  meet  him  on 
the  Wabash.  Accordingly  a  party  went  from  each 
village. 

All  of  our  party  returned,  among  whom  came  apro' 
phet,  who  explained  to  us  the  bad  treatment  the  differ- 
ent nations  of  Indians  had  received  from  the  Americans, 
by  giving  them  a  few  presents,  and  taking  their  land 
from  them.    I  remember  well  his  saying — -^^  If  you  do 
not  join  your  friends  on  the  Wabash,  the  Americans  will 
take  this  very  village  from  youP     I  little  thought  then, 
that  his  words  would  come  true!    Supposing  that  he 
used  these  arguments  merely  to  encourage  us  to  join 
him,  we  agreed  that  we  would  not.    He  then  returned 
to  the  'VY^'^^sh)  where  a  party  of  Winnebagoes  had 
arrived,  and  preparations  were  making  for  war!    A 
battle  soon  ensued,  in  which  several  Winnebagoes 
were  killed.    As  soon  as  their  nation  heard  of  this  bat- 
tle, and  that  some  of  t'leir  people  had  been  killed,  they 
started  war  parties  in  different  directions.     One  to  the 
mining  country,  one  to  Prairie  du  Chien,  and  another 
to  fort  Madison.     This  Inst  returned  by  our  village, 
and  exhibited  several  scalps  which  they  had  taken. 
Their  success  induced  several  other  parties  to  go 
against  the  fort.    Myself  and  several  of  my  band  join- 
ed the  last  party,  and  were  determined  to  take  the  fort. 
We  arrived  in  the  vicinity  during  the  night.    The 
spies  that  we  had  sent  out  several  days  before,  to  watch 


LIFE  OF  BLACK  HAWK.  t/ 

the  movements  of  those  at  the  garrison,  and  ascertain 
their  numbers,  came  to  us,  and  gave  the  following  in' 
formation : — ^**That  a  keel-boat  had  arrived  from  below 
that  evening,  with  seventeen  men;  that  there  were 
about  fifty  men  in  the  fort,  and  that  they  marched  out 
every  morning  at  sunrise,  to  exercise."     > 

It  was  immediately  determined  that  we  should  take 
a  position  as  near  as  we  could,  (to  conceal  ourselv^  s,) 
to  the  place  where  the  soldiers  would  come;  and  when 
the  signal  was  given,  each  man  to  fire,  and  then  rush 
into  the  fort.  I  dug  a  hole  with  my  knife,  deep  enough, 
(by  placing  a  few  weeds  around  it,)  to  conceal  myself. 
I  was  so  near  to  the  fort  that  I  could  hear  the  sentinel 
walking,  ^y  day-break,  I  had  finished  my  work,  and 
was  anxiously  awaiting  the  rising  of  the  sun.  The 
drum  beat;  I  examined  the  priming  of  my  gun,  and 
eagerly  watched  for  the  gate  to  open.  It  did  open — 
but  instead  of  the  troops  marching  out,  a  young  man 
came  alone.  The  gate  closed  after  him.  He  passed 
close  by  me — so  near  that  I  could  have  killed  him  with 
my  knife,  but  I  let  him  pass.  He  kept  the  path  to- 
wards the  river;  and  had  he  went  one  step  out  of  it,  he 
must  have  come  upon  us,  and  would  have  been  killed^ 
He  returned  immediately,  and  entered  the  gate.  I 
would  now  have  rushed  for  the  gate,  and  entered  it 
with  him,  but  I  feared  that  our  party  was  not  prepared 
to  follow  me. 

The  gate  opened  again — four  men  came  out,  and 


•^■1 


V    I 


84 


m 


LIPB  OF  BLACK  HAWK4 


went  down  to  the  river  after  wood.  Whilst  they  were 
^  IfP^f  >  another  njan  came  out,  and  walked  towards  the 
rive'r^was  fired  upon  and  killed  by  a  Winnebago. 
The  others  immediately  ran  for  the  fort,  and  two  of 
them  were  killed.  We  then  took  shelter  under  the 
bank,  out  of  reach  of  fire  from  the  fort. 

The  firing  now  commenced  from  both  parties,  and 
continued  all  day.  I  advised  our  party  to  set  fire  to 
the  fort,  and  commenced  .preparing  arrows  for  that 
purpose.  At  night  we  made  the  attempt,  and  suc- 
ceeded to  fire  the  buildings  several  times,  but  without 
effect,  as  the  fire  was  almost  instantly  extinguished. 

The  next  day  I  took  my  rifle,  and  shot  in  two  the 
cord  by  which  they  hoisted  their  flag,  and  prevented 
them  from  raising  it  again>.  We  continued  firing  until 
all  our  ammunition  was  expended;  and  finding  that  we 
could  not  take  the  fort,  returned  home,  having  had  one 
Winnebago  killed,  and  one  wounded,  during  the  seige. 
I  have  since  learned  that  the  trader,  who  lived  in  the 
fort,  wounded  the  Winnebago  when  he  was  scalping 
the  first  man  that  was  killed!  The  Winnebago  re- 
covered,  is  now  living,  and  is  very  friendly  disposed 
towards  the  trader,  believing  him  to  be  a  great  brave! 

Soon  after  our  return  home,  news  reached  us  that  a 
war  was  going  to  take  place  between  the  British  and 
the  Americans.  Runners  continued  to  arrive  from 
different  tribes,  all  confirming  the  report  of  the  ex- 
pected  war.     The  British  agent,  Col.  Dixon,  was 


WjI' 


? 


LIVE  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


35 


holding  talks  with,  and  making  presents  to,  the  differ- 
ent tribes.  I  had  not  made  up  my  mind  whether  to 
join  the  British,  or  remain  neutral.  /  had  not  discov- 
ered  one  good  trait  in  the  character  of  the  Americans  that 
had  come  to  the  country!  They  made  fair  promises,  but 
never  fulfilled  them  !  Whilst  the  British  made  but  few 
—but  we  could  always  rely  upon  their  word! 

One  of  our  people  having  killed  a  Frenchman  at 
Prairie  du  Chien,  the  British  took  him  prisoner,  and 
said  they  would  ^Aoo^  him  the  next  day!  His  family 
were  encamped  a  short  distance  below  the  mouth  of 
the  Ouisconsin.  He  begged  for  permission  to  go  and 
see  them  that  night,  as  he  was  to  die  the  next  day! 
They  permitted  him  to  go,  after  promising  to  return 
the  next  morning  by  sunrise.  He  visited  his  family, 
which  consisted  of  a  wife  and  six  children.  I  cannot 
descril*  e  their  meeting  and  parting,  to  be  understood 
by  the  whites;  as  it  appears  thai  their  feelings  are 
acted  upon  by  certain  rules  laid  down  by  their/wcacA- 
ers! — whilst  ours  are  governed  only  by  the  monitor 
within  us.  He  parted  from  his  wife  and  children, 
hurried  through  the  prairie  to  the  fort,  and  arrived  in 
time!  The  soldiers  were  ready,  and  immediately 
marched  out  and  shot  him  down!  I  visited  his  family, 
and  by  hunting  and  fishing,  provided  for  them  until 
they  reached  their  relations. 

Why  did  the  Great  Spirit  ever  send  the  whites  to 
this  island,  to  drive  us  from  our  homes,  and  introdaca 


36 


LIFB  OF  BLACK  MAWK. 


I* 


among  us  poisonous  liquors,  diseoH^  and  deaih?  They 
should  have  remained  on  the  island  where  the  Great 
Spirit  first  placed  them.  But  I  will  proceed  with  my 
story.  My  memory,  however,  is  not  very  good,  since 
my  late  visit  to  the  white  people.  I  have  still  a  buz- 
zing in  my  ears,  from  the  noise — and  may  give  some 
parts  of  my  story  out  of  place;  but  I  will  endeavor  to 
be  correct. 

Several  of  our  chiefs  and  head  men  were  called  upon 
to  go  to  Washington,  to  see  their  Great  Father. 
They  started;  and  during  their  absence,  I  went  to 
Peoria,  on  the  Illinois  river,  to  see  an  old  friend,  a 
trader,  to  get  his  advice.  He  was  a  man  that  always 
told  us  the  truth,  and  knew  every  thing  that  was  going 
on.  When  I  arrived  at  Peoria,  he  was  not  there,  but 
had  gone  to  Chicago.  I  visited  the  Pottowatomie 
villages,  and  then  returned  to  Rock  river.  Soon  after 
which,  our  friends  returned  from  their  visit  to  our 
Great  Father — and  related  what  had  been  said  and 
done.  Their  Great  Father  (they  said)  wished  us,  in 
the  event  of  a  war  taking  pince  with  England,  not  to 
interfere  on  either  side — but  to  remain  neutral.  He 
did  not  want  our  help— but  wished  us  to  hunt  and  sup- 
port our  families,  and  live  in  peace.  He  said  that 
British  traders  would  not  be  permitted  to  come  on  the  ; 
Mississippi,  to  furnish  us  with  goods — ^but,  we  would 
be  well  supplied  by  an  American  trader.  Our  chiefs 
then  told  him  that  the  British  traders  always  gave  us 


\* 


,_,«./.  5j« 


UVB  OF  BfAOK  HAWK. 


37 


credits  in  the  fall,  for  guas,  powder  and  goods,  to  enable 
us  to  hunt,  and  clothe  our  families.  He  replied  that 
the  trader  at  fort  Madison  would  have  plenty  of  goods — 
that  we  should  go  there  in  the  fall,  and  he  would  sup-  ' 
ply  us  on  credit,  as  the  British  traders  had  done.  The 
party  gave  a  good  account  of  what  they  had  seen,  and 
the  kind  treatment  they  received. 

This  information  pleased  us  all  very  much.  We  aH  - 
agreed  to  follow  our  Great  Father's  advice,  and  not 
interfere  with  the  war.  Our  women  were  much 
pleased  at  this  good  news.  Every  thing  went  on 
cheerfully  in  our  village.  We  resumed  our  pastimes 
of  playing  ball,  horse  racing,  and  dancing,  which  had 
been  laid  aside  when  this  great  war  was  first  talked 
about« 

We  had  fine  crops  of  corn,  which  were  now  ripe — 
and  our  women  were  engaged  in  gathering  it,  and 
making  cashes  to  contain  it.  In  a  short  time  we  were 
ready  to  start  to  fort  Madison,  to  get  our  supply  of 
goods,  that  we  might  proceed  to  our  hunting  grounds. 
We  passed  merrily  down  the  river — all  in  high  spirits. 
1  had  determined  to  spend  the  winter  at  my  old  favor- 
ite-hunting  ground,  on  Skunk  river,  and  lefl  part  of 
my  corn  and  meat  at  its  mouth,  to  take  up  when  I 
returned :  others  did  the  same.  Next  morning  we  ar- 
rived at  the  fort,  and  made  our  encampment.  Myself 
and  principal  men  paid  a  visit  to  the  war  chief  at 
the  fort.     He  received  us  kindly,  and  gave  us  some 

4 


^^mmmi 


38 


LIFE  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


tobacco,  pipes  and  provision.  The  trader  came  in^ 
and  we  all  rose  and  shook  hands  with  him — for  on 
him  all  our  dependence  was  placed^  to  enable  ua  to 
hunt,  and  thereby  support  our  families.  We  waited  a 
long  time,  expecting  the  trader  would  tell  us  that  he 
had  orders  fro.n  our  Great  Father  to  supply  us  with 
goods — but  he  said  nothing  on  the  subject.  I  got  up, 
and  told  him,  in  a  short  speech,  what  we  had  come 
for — and  hoped  he  had  plenty  of  goods  to  supply  us — 
and  told  him  that  he  should  be  well  paid  in  the  spring 
— and  concluded,  by  informing  him,  that  we  had  de- 
termined to  follow  our  Great  Father's  advice,  and 
not  go  to  war. 

He  said  that  he  was  happy  to  hear  that  we  intended 
to  remain  at  peace.  That  he  had  a  large  quantity  of 
goods;  and  that,  if  we  made  a  good  hunt,  we  would 
be  well  supplied:  but  remarked,  that  he  had  received 
no  instructions  to  furnish  us  any  thing  on  credit!  nor 
could  he  give  us  any  without  receiving  the  pay  for  them 
on  the  spot! 

We  informed  him  what  our  Great  Father  had  told 
our  chiefs  at  Washington — and  contended  that  he 
could  supply  us  if  he  would-'-'believing  that  our  Great 
Father  always  spoke  the  truth!  But  the  war  chief  said 
ihat  lae  trader  could  not  furnish  us  on  credit — and  that 
he  had  received  no  instructions  from  our  Great  Father  at 
Washington!  We  left  the  fort  dissatisfied,  and  went 
to  our  camp.    What  was  now  to  be  done,  we  knew 


tfe.- 


f 


i 
] 


A  ,  LIFE  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 

Dot.  We  questioned  the  party  that  brought  us  the 
news  from  our  Great  Father,  that  we  would  get  credit 
for  our  winter's  supplies  at  this  place.  They  still 
told  the  same  story,  and  insisted  upon  its  truth.  Few 
of  us  slept  that  night — all  was  gloom  and  discontent! 
.  In  the  morning,  a  canoe  was  seen  descending  the 
river — it  soon  arrived,  bearing  an  express,  who  brought 
intelligence  that  La  Gutrie,  a  British  trader^  had  land- 
ed at  Rock  Island,  with  two  boats  loaded  with  goods — 
and  requested  us  to  come  up  immediately — because  he 
had  good  news  for  us,  and  r  variety  of  presents.  The 
express  presented  us  with  tobacco,  pipes  and  wampum. 
The  news  run  through  our  camp  like  fire  in  the 
prairie.  Our  lodges  were  soon  taken  down,  and  all 
started  for  Rock  Island.  Here  ended  all  hopes  of 
our  remaining  at  peace — having  been  forced  into  war 
by  being  deceived! 

Our  party  were  not  long  in  getting  to  Rock  Island. 
When  we  came  in  sight,  and  saw  tents  pitched,  we 
yelled,  fired  our  guns,  and  commenced  beatine^  our 
drums.  Guns  were  immediately  fired  at  the  island, 
returning  our  salute,  and  a  British  flag  hoisted!  We 
kmded,  anc'  were  cordially  received  by  La  Gutri&«- 
and  then  smoked  the  pipe  with  him!  After  which  be 
made  a  speech  to  us,  that  had  been  sent  by  Colonel 
Dixon,  and  gave  us  a  number  of  handsome  presents — 
a  large  silk  flag,  and  a  keg  of  rum,  and  told  us  to 


m- 


k^ 


2189189 


I 


'i  ; 


- 1*"^;. 


'I 


li!"; 


m 


M 


ill 


111  P 


LIFE  OF  BIiACK  HAWK.  ,, 

^retire — take  some  lefreshments  and  rest  ourselves,  as 
•  J  he  would  have  more  to  say  to  us  on  the  next  day. 
We  accordingly  retired  to  our  lodges,  (which  had 
-  been  put  up  in  the  mean  time,)  and  spent  the  night. 
1  The  next  morning  we  called  upon  him,  and  told  him 
'  that  we  wanted  his  two  boat's  load  of  goods  to  divide 
i  among  our  people — for  which  he  should  be  well  paid 
ia  the  spring  with  furs  and  peltries.     He  consented — 
-told  us  to  take  them — and  do  as  we  pleased  with  them. 
'  ^itWhilst  our  people  were  dividing  the  goods,  he  took  me 
aside,  and  informed  me  that  Col.  Dixon  was  at  Green 
Bay  with  twelve  boats,  loaded  with  goods,  guns,  and 
ammunition — and  wished  me  to  raise  a  party  immedi- 
ately and  go  to  him.   He  said  that  our  friend,  the  trader 
at  Peoria,  was  collecting  the  Potto watomies,  and  would 
be  there  before  us.    I  communicated  this  information 
to  my  braves,  and  a  party  of  two  hundred  warriors 
.were  soon  collected  and  ready  to  depart. 

I  paid  a  visit  to  the  lodge  of  an  old  friend,  who  had 
been  the  comrade  of  my  youth,  and  had  been  in  many 
war  parties  with  me,  but  was  now  crippled,  and  no 
longer  able  to  travel.  He  had  a  son  that  I  had  adopted 
as  my  own,  who  had  hunted  with  me  the  two  prece- 
ding winters.  I  wished  my  old  friend  to  let  him  go 
with  me.  He  objected,  saying  that  he  could  not  get 
bis  support  if  his  son  left  him:  and  that  I,  (who  had 
always  provided  for  him  since  he  got  lame,)  would  be 
gone,  and  he  had  no  other  dependence  than  his  son.    I 


♦■   •» 


m 


s;v 


# 


^•*. 


UFB  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


41 


ourseives,  as 
next  day. 
(which  had 
it  the  night, 
ind  told  him 
lods  to  divide 
be  well  paid 
consented — 
1  with  them. 
,  he  took  me 
as  at  Green 
s,  guns,  and 
irty  immedi- 
d,  the  trader 
s,  and  would 
information 
ed  warriors 

id,  who  had 
en  in  many 
sd,  and  no 
lad  adopted 

two  prece- 
let  him  go 
ild  not  get 
(who  had 
)  would  be 

his  son.    I 


: 


: 


offered  to  leave  my  son  in  his  place — but  he  still  refused. 
He  said  he  did  not  like  the  war — he  had  been  down 
the  river,  and  had  been  well  treated  by  the  Americans, 
and  could  not  fight  against  them.  He  had  promised  to 
winter  near  a  white  settler  above  Salt  river,  and  must 
take  his  son  with  him.  We  parted.  I  soon  concluded 
my  arrangements,  and  started  with  my  party  to  Green 
Bay.  On  our  arrival  there,  we  found  a  large  encamp- 
ment, and  were  well  received  by  Dixon,  and  the  war 
chiefs  that  were  with  him.  He  gave  us  plenty  of  pro- 
visions, tobacco  and  pipes,  and  said  he  would  hold  a 
council  with  us  the  next  day. 

In  the  encampment,  I  found  a  large  number  of  Pot- 
towatomies,  Kickapoos,  Ottawas  and  Winnebagoes. 
I  visited  all  their  camps,  and  found  them  in  high  spirits. 
They  had  all  received  new  guns,  ammunition,  and  a 
variety  of  clothingi  In  the  evening  a  messenger  came 
to  me  to  visit  Col.  Dixon.  I  went  to  his  tent,  in  which 
were  two  other  war  chiefs,  and  an  interpreter.  He 
received  me  with  a  hearty  shake  of  the  hand,  and  pre- 
1%:  !^red  me  to  the  other  chiefs,  who  shook  my  hand  cor- 
dhaV^yn  and  seemed  much  pleased  to  see  me.  After  I 
was  seated.  Col.  Dixon  said :  '^  Gen.  Black  Hawk,  I 
sent  for  you,  to  explain  to  you  what  we  are  going  to  do, 
and  the  reasons  that  have  brought  us  here.  Our  friepd. 
La  Gutrie,  informs  us  in  the  letter  you  brought  from 
him,  what  has  lately  taken  plac6.  You  will  now  have 
to  hold  us  fast  by  the  hand.    Your  English  father  has 


»f 


-^^^m^mmmm^m 


■^"■w^^^ampnnpwiVPPB 


^^» 


•A>> 


'I'  'I 


i2 


bIFB  OF  BLA€K  HA^K. 


.  found  out  that  the  Americaifs  want  tO'  take  your  country 
from  you — and  has  sent  me  and  his  braves  to  drive 

i'  them  back  to  their  own  country.  He  has,  likewise, 
sent  a  large  quantity  of  arms  and  ammunition — and 
we  want  all  your  warriors  to  join  us." 

He  then  ptaced  a  medal  round  my  neck,  and  gave 
me  a  paper,  (which  I  lost  in  the  late  war,)  and  a  silk 
flag,  saying — ^'^  You  are  to  command  all  the  braves  that 

*^-.  will  leave  here  the  day  after  to-morrow,  to  join  our 
braves  near  Detroit." 

I  told  him  that  I  was  very  much  disappointed — as  I 
wanted  to  descend  the  Mississippi,  and  make  war  upon 
the  settlements.    He  said  he  had  been  *' ordered  to 
lay  the  country  waste  around  St.  Louis — that  he  had 
been  a  trader  on  the  Mississippi  many  years — had  al- 
ways been  kindly  treated,  and  could  not  consent  to  send 
brave  men  to  murder  women  and  children!    That  there 
were  no  soldiers  there  to  fight;  but  where  he  was  going 
to  send  us,  there  were  a  number  of  soldiers:  and,  if  we 
.  defeated  them,  the  Mississippi  country  should  be  ours!" 
I  was  pleased  with  this  speiech;  it  was  spoken  by  a  brave  ! 
I  inquired  about  my  old  friend,  the  trader,  at  Peoria, 
and  observed,  **  that  I  expected  he  would  have  been 
hire  before  me."    He  shook  his  h  }ad,  and  said  he  ''  had 
sent  express  after  express  to  him,  and  had  ojffered  him 
large  sums  of  monet/^  to  come,  and  bring  all  the  Potto- 
watomies  and  Kickapoos  with  him;  but  he  refusedy 
saying,  ^your  British  father  had  not  monetf  enough  to  trir 


m, 


*.  ■■'•». 


■*ii 


XlflB  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


43 


yourcountry 
aves  to  drive 
las,  likewise, 
[inition — and 

ck,  and  gave 
',)  and  a  silk 
e  braves  that 
I  to  join  our 

ointed — as  I 
^e  war  upon 
"ordered  to 
-that  he  had 
ars — had  al- 
nsent  to  send 

That  there 
le  was  going 
i:  and,  if  we 
Id  be  ours!" 
n  by  a  brave! 
r,  at  Peoria, 

have  been 
lid  he  "had 
offered  him 
I  the  Potto- 
be  refusedv 
nottgh  to  inr 


' 


I 


duce  him  to  join  usP  I  have  now  laid  a  trap  for  him.  I 
have  sent  Gomoj  and  a  party  of  Indians,  to  take  him 
prisoner,  and  bring  him  here  alive.  I  expect  him  in  a 
few  days." 

The  next  day,  arms  and  ammunition,  tomahawks, 
knives,  and  clothing,  were  given  to  my  band.  We 
had  a  great  feast  in  the  evening;  and  the  morning 
following,  I  started  with  about  Jive  hundred  braves,  to 
join  the  British  army.  The  British  war  chief  accom- 
panied us.  We  passed  Chicago.  The  fort  had  been 
evacuated  by  the  American  soldiers,  who  had  marched 
for  fort  Wayne.  They  were  attacked  a  short  distance 
from  that  fort,  and  defeated!  They  had  a  considerable 
quantity  of  powder  in  the  fort  at  Chicago,  which  they 
had  promised  to  the  Indians;  but  the  night  before  they 
marched,  they  destroyed  it.  I  think  it  was  thrown 
into  the  well!  If  they  had  fulfilled  their  word  to  the 
Indians,  I  think  they  would  have  gone  safe. 

On  our  arrival,  I  found  that  the  Indians  had  several 
prisoners.  I  advised  them  to  treat  them  well.  We 
continued  our  march,  and  joined  the  British  army  be- 
low Detroit;  and  soon  after  had  a  fight!  The  Ameri- 
cans fought  well,  and  drove  us  with  considerable  loss! 
I  was  surprised  at  this,  as  I  had  been  told  that  th« 
Americans  could  not  Jight!    - 

Our  next  movement  was  against  a  fortified  place. 
I  was  stationed,  with  my  braves,  to  prevent  any  person 
going  to,  or  coming  from  the  fort.    I  found  two  men 


%. 


»^P«W" 


mmmmim 


m 


44 


LIFE  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


m 


taking  care  of  cattle,  and  took  them  prisoners.  I 
would  not  kill  them,  but  delivered  them  to  the  British 
war  chief.  Soon  after,  several  boats  came  down  the 
river,  full  of  American  soldiers.  They  landed  on  the 
opposite  side,  took  the  British  batteries,  and  pursued 
the  soldiers  that  had  left  them.  They  went  too  far, 
without  knowing  the  forces  of  the  British,  and  were 
defeated!  I  hurried  across  the  river,  anxious  for  an 
opportunity  to  show  the  courage  of  my  braves;  but 

^  before  we  reached  the  ground,  all  was  over!  The 
British  had  taken  many  prisoners,  and  the  Indians  mere 
killing  them!  I  immediately  put  a  stop  to  it,  as  I  never 
thought  it  brave,  but  cowardly,  to  kill  an  unarmed 
and  helpless  enemy! 

We   remained  here   some  time.     I  cannot  detail 
what  took  place,  as  I  was  stationed,  with  my  braves, 

^  in  the  woods.  It  appeared,  however,  that  the  British 
could  not  take  this  fort — for  we  were  marched  to  an- 
other some  distance  off.  When  we  approached  it,  I 
found  it  a  small  stockade,  and  concluded  that  there 
were  not  many  men  in  it.  The  British  war  chief  sent 
a  flag — Colonel  Dixon  carried  it,  and  returned.  He 
said  a  young  war  chief  commanded,  and  would  not 
give  up  without  fighting!  Dixon  came  to  me  and  said, 
"  you  will  see,  to-morrow,  how  easily  we  will  take  that 
fort."  I  was  of  opinion  that  they  would  take  it;  but 
when  the  morning  came,  I  was  disappointed*  The 
Britiih  advanced— commenced  an  attack,  and  fought 


% 


LIFE  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


45 


like  braves;  but  by  braves  in  the  fort,  were  defeated^ 
and  a  great  number  killed!  The  British  army  were 
making  preparations  to  retreat.  1  was  now  tired  of 
being  with  them — our  success  being  bad,  and  having 
got  no  plunder.  I  determined  on  leaving  them  and 
returning  to  Rock  river,  to  see  what  had  become  of  my 
wife  and  children,  as  I  had  not  heard  from  them  since 
I  started.  That  night,  I  took  about  twenty  of  my 
braves,  and  left  the  British  camp  for  home.  We  met 
no  person  on  our  journey  until  we  reached  the  Illinois 
river.  Here  we  found  two  lodges  of  Pottowato- 
mies.  They  received  us  very  friendly,  and  gave  us 
something  to  eat;  and  inquired  c^bout  their  friends  that 
were  with  the  British.  They  said  there  had  been 
some  fighting  on  the  Illinois,  and  that  my  old  friend, 
the  trader  at  Peoria,  had  been  taken  prisoner!  "  By 
Gomo  and  his  party?"  I  immediately  inquired.  They 
said, "no;  but  by  the  Americans^  vfho  came  up  with 
two  boats.  They  took  him  and  the  French  settlers, 
and  then  burnt  the  village  of  Peoria."  They  could 
give  us  no  news  respecting  our  people  on  Rock  river. 
In  three  days  more,  we  were  in  the  vicinity  of  our  vil- 
lage, when  I  discovered  a  smoke  ascending  from  a  hol- 
low in  the  bluffs.  I  directed  my  party  to  proceed  to 
the  village,  as  I  wishe  1  to  go  alone  to  the  place  from 
whence  the  smoke  proceeded,  to  see  who  was  there. 
I  approached  the  spot,  and  when  I  came  in  view  of 
the  fire,  saw  a  mat  stretched,  and  an  old  man  sitting 
under  it  in  sorrow.    At  any  other  time,  I  would  hav« 


m 


410 

if 


46 


LIFE  OF  BLACK   HAWK. 


I'll 


,111 


turned  awaj  without  disturbing  him — knowing  that  he 
had  come  there  to  be  alone,  to  humble  himself  before 
the  Great  Spirit,  that  he  might  take  pity  on  him!  I 
approached  and  seated  myself  beside  him.  He  gave 
one  look  at  me,  and  then  fixed  his  eyes  on  the  ground ! 
It  was  my  old  friend!  I  anxiously  inquired  for  his  son, 
(my  adopted  child,)  and  what  had  befallen  our  people? 
My  old  comrade  seemed  scarcely  alive — he  must  have 
fasted  a  long  time.  I  lighted  my  pipe,  and  put  it  in 
his  mouth.  He  eagerly  drew  a  few  puffs — cast  up  his 
eyes,  which  met  mine,  and  recognized  me.  His  eyes 
were  glassy!  He  would  again  have  fallen  off  into  for- 
getfulness,  had  I  not  given  him  some  water,  which  re- 
vived him.  I  again  inquired,  '^  what  has  befallen  our 
people,  and  what  has  become  of  our  son?" 

In  a  feeble  voice, he  said:  "Soon  after  your  depar- 
ture to  join  the  British,  I  descended  the  river  with  a 
small  party,  to  winter  at  the  place  I  told  you  the  white 
man  had  requested  me  to  come  to.  When  we  ar- 
jived,  I  found  a  fort  built,  and  the  white  family  that 
had  invited  me  to  come  and  hunt  near  them,  had  re- 
moved to  it.  I  then  paid  a  visit  to  the  fort,  to  tell  the 
white  people  that  myself  and  little  band  were  friendly, 
and  that  we  wished  to  hunt  in  the  vicinity  of  their  fort. 
The  war  chief  who  commanded  it,  told  me,  that  we 
might  hunt  on  the  Illinois  side  of  the  Mississippi,  and 
no  person  would  trouble  us.  That  the  horsemen  only 
ranged  on  the  Missouri  side,  and  he  had  directed  them 


/.WT'f- ' ' 


-*.-»f 


m^ 


• 


«<»■ 


LIVB  OF  BLACK  HA'WK. 


47 


not  to  cross  the  river.  I  was  pleased  with  this  assu- 
rance of  safety,  and  immediately  crossed  over  and 
made  my  winter's  camp.  Game  was  plenty;  we  lived 
happy,  and  oAen  talked  of  you.  My  boy  regretted 
your  absence,  and  the  hardships  you  would  have  to 
undergo.  We  had  been  here  about  two  moons,  when 
my  boy  went  out,  as  usual,  to  hunt.  Night  came  on, 
and  he  did  not  return !  I  was  alarmed  for  his  safety, 
and  passed  a  sleepless  night.  In  the  morning,  my  old 
woman  went  to  the  other  lodges  and  gave  the  alarm — 
and  all  turned  out  in  pursuit.  There  being  snow  on 
the  ground,  they  soon  came  upon  his  track,  and  after 
pursuing  it  some  distance,  found  he  was  on  the  trail  of 
a  deer,  that  led  towards  the  river.  They  soon  came 
to  the  place  where  he  had  stood  and  fired,  and  found 
a  deer  hanging  upon  the  branch  of  a  tree,  which  had 
been  skinned.  But  here  were  found  the  tracks  of 
lohite  men  !  They  had  taken  my  boy  prisoner.  Their 
tracks  led  across  the  river,  and  then  down  towards  the 
fort.  My  friends  followed  them,  and  soon  found  mj 
boy  lying  dead !  He  had  been  most  cruelly  murdered ! 
His  face  was  shot  to  pieces — his  body  stabbed  in  sev* 
oral  places — and  his  head  scalped!  His  arms  were 
tied  behind  him!" 

The  old  man  paused  for  some  time,  and  then  told 
me  that  his  wife  had  died  on  her  way  up  the  Missis- 
sippi! I  took  the  band  of  my  old  friend  in  mine,  and 
pledged  myself  to  avenge  the  death  of  his  son!  It  was 


.¥.. 


,^ 


Pi 


M      11 


U'M 


m 


•^' 


wmmn 


ir 


r 


^■ 


46 


LIFB  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


now  dark — a  terrible  storm  commenced  raging,  with 
heavy  torrents  of  rain,  thunder  and  lightning.  I  had 
taken  my  blanket  off  and  wrapped  it  around  the  old 
man.  When  the  storm  abated,  I  kindled  a  fire  and 
took  hold  of  my  old  friend  to  remove  him  near  tc  it-— 
but  he  was  dead!  I  remained  with  him  the  balance  of 
the  night.  Some  of  my  party  came  early  in  the  morn- 
ing to  look  for  me,  and  assisted  me  in  burying  him  on 
the  peak  of  the  bluff.  I  then  returned  to  the  village 
with,  my  friends.  I  visited  the  grave  of  my  old  friend 
the  last  time,  as  I  ascended  Rock  river. 

On  my  arrival  at  the 'Village,  I  was  met  by  the  chiefs 
and  braves,  and  conducted  to  a  lodge  that  had  been 
prepared  to  receive  me.  After  eating,  I  gave  an 
account  of  what  I  had  seen  and  done.  I  explained 
to  them  the  manner  the  British  and  Americans 
fought.  Instead  of  stealing  upon  each  other,  and 
taking  every  advantage  to  kill  the  enemy  and  save  their 
own  people^  as  we  do,  (which,  with  us,  is  considered  good 
policy  in  a  war  chief,)  they  march  out,  in  open  day- 
light, and  Jight,  regardless  of  the  number  of  warriors 
they  may  lose !  After  the  battle  is  over,  they  retire  to 
feast,  and  drink  wine,  as  if  nothing  had  happened ; 
after  which,  they  make  a  statement  in  writing,  of  what 
they  have  done — each  parly  claiming  the  victory!  and 
neither  giving  an  account  of  half  the  number  that 
haye  been  killed  on  their  own  side.  They  all  fought 
like  braves,  but  would  not  do  to  Uad  a  war  party  with 


m 


# 


LIFE  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


49 


>t  warrion 


ui.  Our  maxim  is,  "  to  kilt  the  enemy,  and  save  our  own 
//wn."  Those  chiefs  would  do  to  paddle  a  canoe,  but 
not  to  steer  it.  The  Americans  shoot  better  than  the 
British,  but  their  soldiers  are  not  so  well  clothed  or 
provided  for.  ^  '  ^  ^*«*  v 

The  village  chief  informed  me  that  after  I  started  with 
my  braves  and  the  parties  who  followed,  the  nation  was 
reduced  to  so  small  a  party  of  fighting  men,  that  thcj 
would  have  been  unable  to  defend  themselves,  if  the 
Americans  had  attacked  them;  that  all  the  women  and 
children,  and  old  men,  belonging  to  the  warriors  who 
had  joined  the  British,  were  left  with  them  to  provide 
for;  and  that  a  council  was  held,  which  agreed  that 
Quash-qua-me,  the  Lance,  and  other  chiefs,  with  the 
old  men,  women,  and  children,  and  such  others  as 
chose  to  accompany  them,  should  descend  the  Missis- 
sippi, and  go  to  St.  Louis,  and  place  themselves  under 
the  protection  of  the  American  chief  stationed  there. 
They  accordingly  went  down  to  St.  Louis,  and  were 
received  as  the  friendly  band  of  our  nation — sent  up 
the  Missouri,  and  provided  for,  whilst  their  friends  were 
assisting  the  British! 

Ke-o-kuck  was  then  introduced  to  me  as  the  war 
chief  of  the  braves  then  in  the  village.  I  inquired  how 
he  had  become  a  chief.  They  said  that  a  large  armed 
force  was  seeR  by  their  spies,  going  towards  Peoria; 
that  fears  were  entertained  that  they  would  come  upon 
and  attack  our  village;  and  that  a  council  had  been 


.J!t 


■I 


50 


LIFE  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


^ 


convened  to  decide  upon  the  best  course  to  be  adopted, 
which  conchided  upon  leaving  the  village  and  going  on 
the  west  side  of  the  Mississippi,  to  get  out  of  the  way. 
Ke-o-kuck,  during  the  sitting  of  the  council,  had  been 
standing  at  the  door  of  the  lodge,  (not  being  allowed 
to  enter,  having  never  killed  an  enemy,)  where  he 
remained  until  old  Wa-co-me  came  out.  He  then  told 
him  that  he  had  heard  what  they  had  decided  upon, 
and  was  anxious  to  be  permitted  to  go  in  and  speak, 
before  the  council  adjourned!  Wa-co-me  returned, 
and  asked  leave  for  Ke-o-kuck  to  come  in  and  make  a 
speech.  His  request  was  granted.  Ke-o-kuck  en- 
tered, and  addressed  the  chiefs.  He  said,  "  I  have 
heard  with  sorrow,  that  you  have  determined  to  leave 
our  village,  and  cross  the  Mississippi,  merely  because 
jou  have  been  told  that  the  Americans  were  seen 
coming  in  this  direction !  Would  you  leave  our  village, 
desert  our  homes,  and  fly,before  an  enemy  approaches? 
Would  you  leave  all — even  the  graves  of  our  fathers, 
to  the  mercy  of  an  enemy,  without  trying  to  defend 
themf  Give  me  charge  of  your  warriors;  I'll  defend 
the  village,  and  you  may  sleep  in  safety!'' 

The  council  consented  that  Ke-o-kuck  should  be  a 
war  chief.  He  marshalled  his  braves — sent  out  spies 
^-and  advanced  with  a  party  himself,  on  the  trail  lead- 
ing to  Peoria.  They  returned  without  seeing  an  ene- 
my. The  Americans  did  not  come  by  our  village.  All 
were  well  satisfied  with  the  appointment  of  Ke-o-kuck. 

V.'  A. 


"t, 


UFB  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


51 


He  used  every  precaution  that  our  people  should  not 
be  surprised.  This  is  the  manner  in  which,  and  the 
cause  of,  his  receiving  the  appointment. 

I  was  satisfied,  and  then  started  to  visit  my  wife  and 
children.  I  found  them  well,  and  my  boys  were  grow- 
ing finely.  It  is  not  customary  for  us  to  say  much 
about  our  women,  as  they  generally  perform  their  part 
cheerfully,  and  never  interfere  with  business  belonging  to 
the  men!  This  is  the  only  wife  I  ever  had,  or  ever  will 
have.  She  is  a  good  woman,  and  teaches  my  boys  to 
be  brave!  Here  I  would  have  rested  myself,  and  en- 
joyed the  comforts  of  my  lodge,  but  I  could  noh  I  had 
promised  to  avenge  the  death  of  my  adopted  son! 

I  immediately  collected  a  party  of  thirty  braves,  and 
explained  to  them  my  object  in  making  this  war  party 
— it  being  to  avenge  the  death  of  my  adopted  son,  who 
had  been  cruelly  and  wantonly  murdered  by  the  whites. 
I  explained  to  them  the  pledge  I  had  made  his  father, 
and  told  them  that  they  were  the  last  words  that  he 
had  heard  spoken!  All  were  willing  to  go  with  me, 
to  fulfil  my  word.  We  started  in  canoes,  and  descend- 
ed the  Mississippi,  until  we  arrived  near  the  place 
where  fort  Madison  had  stood.  It  had  been  aban- 
doned by  the  whites  and  burnt;  nothing  remained,  but 
the  chimneys.  We  were  pleased  to  see  that  the  white 
people  had  retired  from  our  country.  We  proceeded 
down  the  river  again.  I  landed,  with  one  brave,  near 
Capo  Gray;  the  remainder  of  the  party  went  to  the 


^n^'^ 


"kt- 


mmmmmmmmmmm 


mmmmmmm 


kHy 


>ni  mi. 


.■% 


52 


LIFE  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


trS*' 


k- r- 


inouth  of  the  Quiver.  I  hurried  across  to  the  trail  that 
led  from  the  mouth  of  the  Quiver  to  a  fort,  and  soon 
after  heard  firing  at  the  mouth  of  the  creek.  Myself 
and  brave  concealed  ourselves  on  the  side  of  the  road. 
We  had  not  remained  here  long,  before  two  men  riding 
one  horse,  came  in  full  speed  from  the  direction  of  the 
sound  of  the  firing.  When  they  came  sufficiently  near, 
we  fired;  the  horse  jumped,  and  both  men  fell!  We 
rushed  towards  them— one  rose  and  ran.  I  followed 
him,  and  was  gaining  on  him,  when  he  ran  over  a  pile 
of  rails  that  had  lately  been  made,  seized  a  stick,  and 
detruck  at  me.  I  now  had  an  opportunity  to  see  his 
face — I  knew  him!  He  had  been  at  Quash-qua-me's 
village  to  learn  his  people  how  to  plough.  We  looked 
upon  him  as  a  good  man.  I  did  not  wish  ro  kill  him, 
and  pursued  him  no  further.  I  returned  and  met  my 
brave;  he  said  he  had  killed  the  other  man,  and  had 
his  scalp  in  his  hand!  We  had  not  proceeded  far,  be- 
fore we  met  the  man,  supposed  to  be  killed,  coming  up 
the  road,  staggering  like  a  drunken  man,  all  covered 
with  blood!  This  was  the  most  terrible  sight  I  had 
ever  seen.  I  told  my  comrade  to  kill  him  to  put  him 
out  of  his  misery !  I  could  not  look  at  him.  I  passed 
on,  and  heard  a  rustling  in  the  bushes,  and  distinctly 
saw  two  little  boys  concealing  themselves!  I  thought 
of  my  own  children,  and  passed  on  without  noticing 
them!  My  comrade  here  joined  me,  and  in  a  little 
while  we  met  the  balance  of  oiir  party.    I  told  them 


Mr 


W^'% 


^: 


■i'Mi 


4S 


UFB  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


53 


that  we  Would  be  pursued,  ahd  directed  them  to  follow 
me.  We  crossed  the  creek)  and  formed  ourselves'  in 
the  timber.  We  had  not  been  here  long,  before  a 
party  of  mounted  men  rushed  at  full  speed  upon  u«;!  I 
took  deliberate  aim,  and  shot  the  man  leading  the 
party.  He  fell  from  his  horse  lifeless!  All  my  people 
fired,  but  without  effect.  The  enemy  rushed  upon  us 
without  giving  us  time  to  reload.  They  surrounded  us, 
and  forced  us  to  run  into  a  deep  sink-hole,  at  tiie  bot- 
tom of*  which  there  were  some  bushes.  We  loaded 
our  guns,  and  awaited  the  approach  of  the  enemy. 
They  rushed  to  the  edge  of  the  hole  and  fired,  killin)' 
one  of  our  men.  We  returned  the  fire  instantly,  and 
killed  one  of  their  party!  We  reloaded,  and  com- 
menced digging  holes  in  the  side  of  the  bank  to  protect 
ourselves,  whilst  a  party  watched  the  movements  of 
the  enemy,  expecting  that  their  whole  force  would  be 
upon  us  immediately.  Some  of  my  warriors  commen- 
ced singing  their  death-songs!  1  heard  the  whites  talk- 
ing, and  called 'to  them,  "to  come  out  and  fight!"  I 
did  net  like  my  situation,  and  wished  the  matter  set- 
tled. I  soon  heard  chopping  and  knocking.  I  could 
not  imagine  what  they  were  doing.  Soon  aAer,  they 
run  up  wheels  with  a  battery  on  it,  and  fir*ed  down 
without  hurting  any  of  us.  I  called  to  them  again, 
and  told  them  it  they  were  "  brave  men,  to  come  down 
a^d  fight  us."  They  gave  up  the  siege,  and  returned 
to  their  fort  about  dusk.    There  were  eighteen  in  this 


*? 


*^. 


m 


^*. 


-^ 


r  iHii-'i 


51 


LIFE  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


,'-<? 


r 


trap  with  me.  We  all  got  out  safe,  and  found  one 
white  man  dead  on  the  edge  of  the  sink-hole.  They 
did  not  remove  him,  for  fear  of  our  fire.  We  scalped 
him,  and  placed  our  dead  man  upon  him!  We  could 
not  have  left  him  in  a  better  situation  than  on  an 
enemj! 

We  had  now  effected  our  purpose,  and  started  back 
by  land — thinking  it  unsafe  to  return  in  our  canoes. 
I  found  my  wife  and  children,  and  the  greater  part  of 
our  people,  at  the  mouth  of  the  loway  river.  I  now 
determined  to  remain  with  my  family,  and  hunt  for 
them;  and  humble  myself  before  the  Great  Spirit,  and 
return  thanks  to  him  for  preserving  me  through  the  war! 

J  made  my  hunting  camp  on  English  river,  (a  branch 
of  the  loway.)  During  the  winter,  a  party  of  Potto- 
watomics  came  from  the  Illinois  to  pay  me  a  visit — 
among  them  was  Wash-e^own,  an  old  man,  that  had 
formerly  lived  in  our  village.  He  informed  us,  that, 
in  the  fall,  the  Americans  had  built  a  fort  at  Peoria, 
and  had  prevented  them  from  going  down  to  the  San- 
gomo  to  hunt.  He  said  they  were  very  much  distress- 
ed—that Gomo  had  returned  from  the  British  army, 
and  brought  news  of  their  defeat  near  Maiden;  and 
told  us  that  he  went  to  the  American  chief  with  a  flag; 
gave  up  fighting,  and  told  the  chief  that  he  wished  to 
make  peace  for  his  nation.  The  American  chief  gave 
him  a  paper  for  the  war  chief  at  the  fort  at  Peoria,  and 
I  visited  that  fort  with  Gomo.    It  was  then  agreed  that 


« -.w 


«< 


LIFE  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


55 


tarted  back 


there  should  be  no  more  fighting  between  the  Ameri- 
cans and  Potto watomies;  and  that  two  of  their  chiefs, 
and  eigiit  braves,  and  five  Americans,  had  gone  down 
to  St.  Louis  to  have  the  peace  confirmed.  This,  said 
Wash-e-own,  is  good  news;  for  we  can  now  go  to  our 
hunting  grounds:  and,  for  my  part,  I  never  had  anj 
thing  to  do  with  this  war.  The  Americans  never  killed 
any  of  our  people  before  the  war,  nor  interfered  with 
our  hunting  grounds;  and  I  resolved  to  do  nothing 
against  them!  I  made  no  reply  to  these  remarks,  as 
the  speaker  was  old,  and  talked  like  a  child ! 

We  gave  the  Pottowatomies  a  feast.  I  presented 
Wash-e-own  with  a  good  horse;  my  braves  gave  one 
to  each  of  his  party, and,  at  parting,  they  said  they  wish- 
ed us  to  make  peace — which  we  did  not  promise — but 
told  them  that  we  would  not  send  out  war  parties 
against  the  settlements. 

A  short  time  after  the  Pottowatomies  left,  a  party  of 
thirty  braves,  belonging  to  our  nation,  from  the /)e(^ce 
camp  on  the  Missouri,  paid  us  a  visit.  They  exhibited 
five,  scalps,  which  they  had  taken  on  the  Missouri,  and 
wished  us  to  dance  over  them,  which  we  willingly 
joined  in.  They  related  the  manner  in  which  they 
had  taken  these  scalps.  Myself  and  braves  then  show- 
ed the  .two  we  had  taken,  near  the  Quiver,  and  told 
them  the  reason  that  induced  that  war  party  to  go  out, 
as  well  as  the  manner  and  difficulty  we  had  in  obtain- 
ing these  scalps. 


s 


MiL% 


«* 

-^ 


•♦•' 


56 


.(a: 


lifE  OF  BI.AGK  HAWK. 


They  recounted  to  us  all  that  had  taken  place — the 
number  that  had  been  killed  by  ih^ peace  party ^  as  they 
were  called  and  recognised — which  far  surpassed  what 
our  warriors,  who  had  joined  the  British,  had  done! 
This  party  came  for  the  purpose  of  joining  the  British! 
I  advised  them  to  return  to  the  peace  party,  and  told 
them  the  news  that  the  Pottowatomies  had  brought. 
They  returned  to  the  Missouri,  accompanied  by  some 
of  my  braves,  whose  families  were  with  the  peace 
party. 

After  sugar-making  was  over,  in  the  spring,  I  visited 
the  Fox  village,  at  the  lead  mines.  They  had  nothing 
to  do  with  the  war,  and'  were  not  in  mourning.  I  re- 
mained there  some  days,  and  spent  my  time  pleasantly 
with  them,  in  dancing  and  feasting.  I  then  paid  a 
visit  to  the  Pottowatomie  village,  on  the  Illinois  river, 
and  learned  that  Sa-na-tu-wa  and  Ta-ta-puc-key,  had 
l)een  to  St.  X^ouis.  Gomo  told  me  *^  that  peace  had 
Wen  made  between  his  people  and  the  Americans, 
and  that  seven  of  his  party  remained  with  the  war 
clitef  to  make  the  peace  stronger!"  He  then  told  me 
that  "Wash-e-own  was  dead!  That  he  had  been  to 
the  fort,  to  carry  some  wild  fowl,  to  exchange  for  to- 
bacco,  pipes,  &c.  That  he  had  got  some  tobacco  and 
a  little  flour,  and  left  the  fort  before  sundown;  but  had 
not  proceeded  far,  before  he  Was  shot  dead^  by  a  war 
chie/j  who  had  concealed  himself  near  the  path  for  that 
purpose! — and  then  dragged  him  to  the  lake  and  tbrew 


^m'^ 


V  ^        *^ 


«. 


■•.W 


M 


LITB  OF  BLA.CK  HAWK. 


57 


him  in,  where  I  afterwards  found  him.  I  have  since 
given  two  hones  and  my  rifle  to  his  relations,  not  to 
break  the  peace — which  they  had  agreed  to.'' 

I  remained  some  time  at  the  village  with  Gomo,  and 
went  with  him  to  the  fort  to  pay  a  visit  to  the  war  chief. 
I  spoke  the  Pottowatomie  tongue  well,  and  was  taken 
for  one  of  their  people  by  the  chief.  He  treated  us 
very  friendly,  and  said  he  was  Very  much  displeased 
about  the  murder  of  Wclsh-e-own,  and  would  find  oot 
and  punish  the  person  that  killed  him.  He  made  some 
inquiries  about  the  Sacs,  which  I  answered. 

On  my  return  to  Rock  river,  I  was  informed  that  a 
party  of  soldiers  had  gone  up  the  Mississippi  to  build  a 
fort  at  Prairie  du  Chien.  They  had  stopped  near  our 
village,  and  appeared  to  be  friendly,  and  were  kindly 
treated  by  our  people. 

We  commenced  repairing  our  lodges,  putting  our 
village  in  order,  and  clearing  our  corn-fields.  We 
divided  the  fields  of  the  party  on  the  Missouri,  among 
those  that  wanted,  on  condition  that  thev  should  be 
relinquished  to  the  owners,  when  they  returned  from 
the  peace  establishment.  We  were  again  happy  in  our 
village:  our  women  went  cheerfully  to  work,  and  all 
moved  on  harmoniously. 

Some  time  afterwards,  five  or  six  boats  arrived,  load- 
ed with  soldiers,  going  to  Prairie  du  Chien,  to  reinforce 
the  garrison.  They  appeared  friendly,  and  were  wfell 
received.      We  held  a  council  with  the  war  chief. 


u'-   ^/ 


I      ■* 


58 


LIFE  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


We  had  no  intention  of  hurting  him,  or  anjr  of  his 
part)^,  or  we  could  easily  have  defeated  them.  They 
remained  with  us  ail  day,  and  used,  and  gave  us,  plenty 
of  whisky!  During  the  night,  a  party  arrived,  (who 
came  down  Rock  rivei*,)  and  brought  us  six  kegs  of 
powder!  They  told  us  that  the  British  had  gone  to 
Prairie  du  Chien,  and  taken  the  fort,  and  wished  us  to 
join  them  again  in  the  war,  which  we  agreed  to.  I 
collected  my  warriors,  and  determined  to  pursue  the 
boats,  which  had  sailed  with  a  fair  wind.  If  we  had 
known  the  day  before,  we  could  easily  have  taken  them 
all,  as  the  war  chief  used  no  precautions  to  prevent  it. 
I  immediately  started  with  my  party,  by  land,  in  pur- 
suit— thinking  that  some  of  their  boats  might  get 
aground,  or  that  the  Great  Spirit  would  put  them  in 
our  power,  if  he  wished  them  taken,  and  their  people 
killed!  About  halfway  up  the  rapids,  I  had  a  full 
view  of  the  boats,  all  sailing  with  a  strong  wind.  I 
•oon  discovered  that  one  boat  was  badly  managed,  and 
was  suffered  to  be  driven  ashore  by  the  wind.  They 
landed,  by  running  hard  aground,  and  lowered  their 
tail.  The  others  passed  on.  This  boat  the  Great 
Spirit  gave  us!  We  approached  it  cautiously,  and 
fired  upon  the  men  on  shore.  All  that  could,  hurried 
aboard,  but  they  were  unable  to  push  off,  being  fast 
aground.  We  advanced  to  the  river's  bank,  under 
cover,  and  commenced  firing  at  the  boat.  Our  balls 
passed  through  the  plank  and  did  execution,  as  I  could 


^^ 


^» ,,. 


,*w 


*^ 


%  ' 


UFB  OF  BLACK  HAWS. 


59 


hear  them  screaming  in  the  boat!  I  encouraged  mj 
braves  to  continue  firing.  Several  guns  were  fired 
from  the  boat,  without  effect.  I  prepared  my  bow 
and  arrows  to  throw  Jire  to  the  sail,  which  was  Ijing  on 
the  boat;  and,  after  two  or  three  attempts,  succeeded 
in  setting  the  sail  on  fire.  * 

The  boat  was  soon  in  flames!  About  this  time,  one 
of  the  boats  that  had  passed,  returned,  dropped  anchor, 
and  swung  in  close  to  the  boat  on  fire,  and  took  off  all 
the  people,  except  those  killed  and  badly  wounded. 
We  could  distinctly  see  them  passing  from  one  boa^  to 
the  other,  and  fired  on  them  with  good  aim.  We 
wounded  the  war  chief  in  this  way!  Another  boat  now 
came  down,  dropped  her  anchor,  which  did  not  take 
hold,  and  was  drifted  ashore!  The  other  boat  cut  her 
cable  and  rowed  down  the  river,  leaving  their  com- 
rades without  attempting  to  assist  them.  We  then 
commenced  an  attack  upon  this  boat,  and  fired  several 
rounds.  They  did  not  return  the  fire.  We  thought 
they  were  afraid,  or  had  but  a  small  number  on  board. 
I  therefore  ordered  a  rush  to  the  boat.  When  we  got 
near,  they  ^rec?,  and  killed  two  of  our  people,  being  all 
that  we  lost  in  the  engagement.  Some  of  their  men 
I  jumped  out  and  pushed  off  the  boat,  and  thus  got  away 
without  losing  a  man !  I  had  a  good  opinion  of  thii 
war  chief — he  managed  so  much  better  than  the  others. 
It  would  give  me  pleasure  to  shake  him  by  the  hand. 
W«  DOW  put  out  the  fire  on  the  captured  boat^to 


im 


i.^**- 


■# 


60 


UFB  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


save  the  cargo;  when  a  skiff  was  discovered  coming 
down  the  river.  Some  of  our  people  cried  out,  *^  here 
comes  an  express  from  Prairie  duChienT'  We  hoisted 
the  British  Jlag,  but  they  would  not  land.  They  turned 
their  little  boat  around,  and  rowed  up  the  river.  We 
directed  a  few  shots  at  them,  in  order  to  bring  them 
to;  but  they  were  so  far  off  that  we  could  not  hurt 
them.  I  found  several  barrels  of  whisky  on  the  cap- 
tured boat,  and  knocked  in  their  heads  and  emptied 
out  the  bad  medicine!  I  next  found  a  box  full  of  small 
bottles  and  packages,  which  appeared  to  be  bad  medi- 
tint  also;  such  as  the  medicine  men  kill  the  white 
people  with  when  they  get  sick.  This  I  threw  into 
the  river;  and  continuing  my  search  for  plunder,  found 
several  guns,  large  barrels  full  of  clothing,  and  some 
cloth  lodges,  all  of  which  I  distributed  among  my  war- 
riors. We  now  disposed  of  the  dead,  and  returned  to 
the  Fox  village,  opposite  the  lower  end  of  Rock 
Island;  where  we  put  up  our  new  lodges  and  hoisted 
the  British  flag.  A  great  many  of  our  braves  were 
dressed  in  the  uniform  clothing  which  we  had  taken, 
wliuch  gave  our  encampment  the  appearance  of  a  regu- 
lar camp  of  soldiers]  We  placed  out  sentinels,  and 
commenced  dancing  over  the  scalps  we  had  taken. 
Soon  after,  several  boats  passed  down;  among  them,  a 
large  boat  carrying  big  guns!  Our  young  men  fol- 
lowed them  some  distance,  6ring  at  them,  but  could  not 
do  much  damage,  more  than  to  frighten  them.    We 


If 


'W% 


mM^''' 


LIFS  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


ei 


were  now  certain  that  the  fort  at  Prairie  du  Chien  had 
been  taken,  as  this  large  boat  went  up  with  the  first 
party,  who  built  the  fort. 

In  the  course  of  the  day  some  of  the  British  came 
down  in  a  small  boat;  they  had  followed  the  large  one, 
thinking  she  would  get  fast  in  the  rapids,  in  which 
case  they  were  certain  of  taking  her.  They  had  sum- 
moned her  on  the  way  down  to  surrender,  but  she 
refused;  and  now,  that  she  had  passed  over  the  rapids 
in  safety,  all  hope  of  taking  her  had  vanished. 

The  British  landed  a  big  gun,  and  gave  us  three  sol- 
diers to  manage  it.  They  complimented  us  for  our 
bravery  in  taking  the  boat,  and  told  us  what  they  had 
done  at  Prairie  du  Chion;  gave  us  a  keg  of  rum,  and 
joined  with  us  in  our  dancing  and  feasting!  We 
gave  them  some  things  which  we  had  taken  from  the 
boat — ^particularly  books  and  papers.  They  started  the 
next  morning,  after  promising  to  return  in  a  few  days 
with  a  large  body  of  soldiers. 

We  went  to  work,  under  the  directions  of  the  men 
left  with  us,  and  dug  up  the  ground  in  two  places,  to 
put  the  big  gun  in,  that  the  men  might  remain  in  with 
it,  and  be  safe.  We  then  sent  spies  down  the  river  to 
reconnoitre,  who  sent  word  by  a  runner,  that  several 
boats  were  coming  up,  filled  with  men.  I  marshalled 
my  forces,  and  was  soon  ready  for  their  arrival,  and 
resolved  to  fight — as  we  had  not  yet  had  a  fair  fight 
with  the  Americans  during  the  war.  The  boats  ar- 
riT«d  in  the  evening,  and  stopped  at  a  small  willow 

6 


»1i: 


$ 


MR 


,w* 


62 


tiFB  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


island,  nearly  opposite  to  us.  During  the  night  we 
removed  our  big  gun  further  down,  and  at  dajlight 
next  morning,  commenced  firing.  We  were  pleased 
to  see  that  almost  every  fire  took  effect,  striking  the 
boats  nearly  every  shot.  They  pushed  off  as  quick  as 
possible ;  and  I  expected  would  land  and  give  a  fight. 
I  was  prepared  to  meet  them — but  was  soon  sadly  dis- 
appointed!— the  boats  having  all  started  down  the  river. 
A  party  of  braves  followed  to  watch  where  they  landed ; 
but  they  did  not  stop  until  they  got  below  the  Des 
Moines  rapids,  when  they  landed,  and  commenced 
building  a  fort. 

I  collected  a  few  braves,  and  started  to  the  place 
where  it  was  reported  they  were  making  a  fort.  I  did 
not  want  a  fort  in'our  country,  as  we  wished  to  go  down 
in  the  fall,  to  the  Two-River  country  to  hunt — it  being 
our  best  hunting  ground;  and  we  concluded,  that 
if  this  fort  was  established,  we  should  be  prevented 
from  going  to  our  hunting  ground.  I  arrived  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  fort  in  the  evening,  and  stopped  for  the 
night,  on  the  peak  of  a  high  bluff.  We  made  no  fire, 
for  fear  of  being  observed.  Our  young  men  kept 
watch  by  turns,  whilst  the  others  slept.  I  was  very 
tired,  and  soon  went  to  sleep.  The  Great  Spirit,  du- 
ring my  slumber,  told  me  to  go  down  the  bluff  to  a 
creek — that  I  would  there  find  a  hollow  tree  cut  down; 
to  look  into  the  top  of  it,  and  I  would  see  a  large 
tnake — to  observe  the  direction  he  was  looking,  and  I 
would  see  the  enemy  close  by,  and  unarmed*    In  the 


* 


•M> 


Ura  OF  BLA.OK  HAWK. 


63 


morning,  I  conjmunicated  to  my  braves  what  the  Great 
Spirit  had  told  me;  and  took  one  of  them  and  went 
down  a  hollow  that  led  to  the  creek,  and  soon  came  in 
sight  of  the  place,  on  an  opposite  hill,  where  they  were 
building  the  fort.  I  saw  a  great  many  men.  We 
crawled  cautiously  on  our  hands  and  knees,  until  we 
got  into  the  bottom — then,  through  the  grass  and 
weeds,  until  we  reached  the  bank  of  the  creek.  Here 
I  found  a  tree  that  had  been  cut  down.  I  looked  in 
the  top  of  it,  and  saw  a  large  snake,  with  his  head 
raised,  looking  across  the  creek.  I  raised  myself 
cautiously,  and  discovered,  nearly  opposite  to  me,  two 
war  chiefs,  walking  arm-in-arm,  without  guns.  They 
turned,  and  walked  back  towards  the  place  where  the 
men  were  working  at  the  foft.  In  a  little  while  they 
returned,  walking  immediately  towards  the  spot  where 
we  lay  concealed — but  did  not  come  as  near  as  before. 
If  they  had,  they  would  have  bceii  killed — for  each  of 
us  had  a  good  rifle.  We  crossed  the  creek,  and  crawled 
to  a  bunch  of  bushes.  I  again  raised  myself  a  little, 
to  see  if  they  were  coming;  but  they  went  into  the  fort. 
By  this  they  saved  their  lives.  '^ 

We  recrossed  the  creek,  and  I  returned  alone — 
going  up  the  hollow  we  came  down.  My  brave  went 
down  the  creek;  and,  on  rising  a  hill  to  the  left  of 
the  one  we  came  down,  I  could  plainly  see  the  men 
at  work;  and  discovered,  in  the  bottom,  near  the 
mouth  of  the  creek^  a  sentinel  walking.  I  watched 
him  attentively,  to  see  if  he  perceived  my  companion, 


'*. 


..,#- 


»ji 


i, 

Hi 


H 


■I  t 


im 

1*1 

Iffi 

1 

11 

1 

»  • 


64 


LITE  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


who  had  gone  towards  him.  The  sentinel  walked  first 
one  way  and  then  back  again.  I  observed  my  brave 
creeping  towards  him.  The  sentinel  stopped  for  some 
time,  and  looked  in  the  direction  where  my  brave  was 
concealed.  He  laid  still,  and  did  not  move  the  grass; 
and,  as  the  sentinel  tiiriied  to  walk,  my  brave  fired  and 
he  fell !  I  looked  towards  the  for^  and  saw  that  they 
were  all  in  confusion — running  ii.  every  direction—- 
some  down  a  steep  bank  to  a  boat.  My  comrade 
joined  me,  and  we  returned  to  the  rest  of  our  party,  and 
all  hurried  back  to  Rock  river,  \There  we  arrived  in 
safety  at  our  village.  I  hung  up  my  medicine  bagj 
put  away  my  rifle  and  spear,  and  felt  as  if  I  should 
not  want  them  again,  as  I  had  no  wish  to  raise  any 
more  war  parties  against  the  whites,  without  they  gave 
new  provocation.  Nothing  particular  happened  from 
this  time  untii  spring,  except;  ^^^  ts  that  the  fort  below 
the  rapids  had  beei*  abandoneil  aud  burnt  by  the 
Americans. 

Soon  after  I  returned  from  my  wintering  ground,  we 
received  information  that  peace  had  been  made  be- 
tween the  British  and  Americans,  and  that  we  were 
required  to  make  peace  also-— and  were  invited  to  go 
down  to  Portage  des  Sioux,  for  that  purpose.  Some 
advised  that  we  should  go  down — others  that  we  should, 
not.  No-mite,  our  principal  civil  chief,  said  he  would 
go,  as  soon  as  the  Foxes  came  down  !rcm  the  Mines. 
They  C'.me,  and  we  all  started  from  Rock  h ver.  We 
had  iiOt  gone  far,  before  our  chief  was  taken  sick.  We 


it. 


M 


LIFB  OP  BLACHC  UhWti 

stopped  with  him  at  the  village  on  Henderson  river. 
The  Foxes  went  on,  and  we  were  to  follow  as  soon  as 
our  chief  got  better;  but  he  continued  to  get  worse, 
and  died.  His  brother  now  became  the  principal 
chief.  He  refused  to  go  down — saving,  that  if  he  start- 
ed, he  would  be  taken  sick  and  die,  as  his  brother  had 
done — which  was  reasonable!  We  nil  concluded,  that 
none  of  us  would  go  at  this  time. 

The  Foxes  returned.  They  said  they  "  had  smoked 
the  pipe  of  peace  with  the  Americans,  and  expected 
that  a  war  party  would  be  sent  against  us,  because 
we  did  not  go  down."  This  I  did  not  believe;  as  the 
Americans  had  always  lost  by  their  war  parlies  that 
came  against  us. 

La  Gutrie,  and  other  British  traders,  arrived  at  our 
village  on  Rock  river,  in  the  fall.  La  Gutrie  told  us, 
that  we  must  go  down  and  make  peace — that  it  was 
the  wish  of  our  English  father.  He  said  he  wished  us 
to  go  down  to  the  Two-River  country  to  winter — where 
game  was  plenty,  as  there  had  been  no  hunting  there 
for  several  years. 

Having  heard  that  a  principal  war  chief,  with  troops, 
had  ccme  up,  and  commenced  building  a  fort  near  Ra» 
pids  des  Moines,  we  consented  to  go  down  with  the 
traders,  to  see  the  American  chief,  and  tell  him  the 
reason  why  we  had  not  been  down  sooner.  We  arriv- 
ed at  the  head  of  the  rapids.  Here  tlie  traders  left 
their  goods  and  boats,  except  one,  in  which  they  ac- 
«ompanied  us  to  the  Americans.    We  visited  the  war 

*6 


^■■■f-,/ 


mmmmmmmm^miimmmm 


Wfm 


■  i 


MWK  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 

chief,  (he  waa  on  board  of  a  boat,)  and  told  him  what 
we  had  to  say— explaining  the  reason  we  had  not  been 
down  sooner.  He  appeared  angrj,  and  talked  to  La 
Gutrie  for  some  time.  I  inquired  of  him,  what  the 
war  chief  said?  He  told  me  that  he  was  threatening 
to  hang  him  up  on  the  yard-arm  of  his  boat.  '^But," 
said  he,  '^  I  am  not  afraid  of  what  he  says.  He  dare 
not  put  his  threats  into  execution.  I  have  done  no 
more  than  I  had  a  right  to  do,  as  a  British  subject.?' 
^  I  then  addresscil  the  chief,  asking  permission  for 

ourselves  and  some  Menomonees,  to  go  down  to  the 
Two-River  country  to  hunt.  He  said,  we  might  go 
down,  but  must  return  before  the  ice  made,  as  he  did 
not  intend  that  we  should  winter  below  the  fort.  ^'  But," 
said  he,  ^'  what  do  you  waiil'lhe  Menomonees  to  go 
with  you  for?^  I  did  not  know,  at  first,  what  reply  to 
make->-but  told  him  that  they  had  a  great  manypretti/ 
squaws  with  them,  and  we  wished  them  to  go  with  us 
on  that  account !  He  consented.  We  all  started  down 
the  river,  and  remained  a//  winter,  as  we  had  no  inten- 
tion of  returning  before  spring,  when  we  asked  leave 
to  go.  We  made  a  good  hunt.  Having  loaded  our 
traders'  boats  with  furs  and  peltries,  they  started  to 
Macinac,and'we  returned  to  our  village. 

There  is  one  circumstance  which  I  omitted  to  men- 
tion in  iixi  proper  place.  It  does  not  relate  to  myself 
or  people,  but  to  my  friend  Gomo,  the  Potto watomie 
chief*  He  came  to  Rock  river  to  pay  me  a  visit.  Du- 
ring his  stay,  he  related  to  me  the  foJiowing  story: 


■r* 


m 


Id  him  what 

ad  not  been 

liked  to  La 

n,  what  the 

threatening 

at,    "But," 

3.    He  dare 

ve  done  no 

subject.?' 

rmission  for 

[own  to  the 

ve  might  go 

?t,  as  he  did 

art.  "But," 

onees  to  go 

lat  reply  to 

mdiny  pretty 

go  with  us 

irted  down 

d  no  inten- 

sked  leave 

oaded  our 

started  to 

id  to  men- 
to  myself 
kowatomie 
lisit.  Du- 
rtoiy; 


LIFE  OF  BLACK  HAWS* 


% 


"The  war  chief  at  Peoria  ia  a  very  g6od  manr^  he 
always  speaks  the  truth,  and  treats  our  people  well. 
He  sent  for  me  one  day,  and  told  me  that  he  was  nearly 
out  of  provision )  and  wished  me  to  send  my  young  men 
out  to  hunt,  to  supply  his  fort.  I  promised  to  do  so; 
and  immediately  returned  to  my  camp,  and  told  my 
young  men  the  wishes  and  wants  of  the  war  chief. 
They  readily  agreed  to  go  and  hunt  for  our  friend; 
and  soon  returned  with  about  twenty  deer»  They  car- 
ried them  to  the  fort,  laid  them  down  at  the  gate,  and 
returned  to  our  camp.  A  few  days  afterwards,  I  went 
again  io  the  fort  to  see  if  they  wanted  more  meat. 
The  chief  gave  me  some  powder  and  lead,  and  said  he 
w'sheu  me  to  send  my  hunters  out  again.  When  I  re- 
turned to  my  camp,  and  told  my  young  men  that  the 
chief  wanted  more  meat,  Ma-ta-tah,  one  of  my  princi- 
pal braves,  said  he  would  take  a  party  and  go  across 
the  Illinois,  about  one  day's  travel,  wh'3re  game  wai 
plenty,  and  make  a  good  hunt  for  our  friend,  the  war 
chief.  He  took  eight  hunters  with  him;  his  wife  and 
several  other  squaws  accompanied  them.  They  had 
travelled  about  half  the  day  in  the  prairie,  when  they 
discovered  a  party  of  white  men  coming  towards  them 
with  a  drove  of  cattle.  Our  hunters  apprehended  no 
danger,  or  they  would  have  kept  out  of  the  way  of  the 
whiles,  (who  had  not  yet  perceived  them.)  Ma-ta-tah 
changed  his  course,  as  he  wished  to  meet  and  speak  to 
the  whites.  As  soon  as  the  whites  saw  our  party,  some 
of  them  put  off&t  full  gpeed,  and  came  up  to  our  hun^ 


"^. 


^m 


i««l 


i^immmmmmmmm 


mm 


■  'W.. 


.i.te' 


68 


%it- 


UgH  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


tin,  Mll-ta-tkh  gave  up  his  gun  to  them,  and  endeaT- 
ored  to  explain  to  them  that  he  was  friendly,  and  was 
hunting  for  the  war  chief.  They  were  not  satisfied 
with  this,  but  fired  at  and  wounded  him.  He  got  into 
the  branch  of  a  tree  that  had  been  blown  down,  to 
keep  the  horses  from  running  over  him.  He  was  again 
fired  on  by  several  guns  and  badly  wounded.  He  found 
that  he  would  be  murdered,  (if  not  mortally  wounded 
already,)  and  sprung  at  Vne  nearest  man  to  him,  seized 
his  gun,  and  shot  him  from  his  horse.  He  then  fell, 
covered  with  blood  from  his  wounds,  and  almost  in- 
stantly expired ! 

"  The  other  hunters,  being  in  the  rear  of  Ma-ta-tah, 
seeing  that  the  whites  had  killed  him,  endeavored  to 
make  their  escape.  They  were  pursued,  and  nearly 
all  the  party  murdered!  My  youngest  brother  brought 
me  the  news  in  the  night,  he  having  been  with  the 
hunters,  and  got  but  slightly  wounded.  He  said  the 
whites  had  abandoned  their  cattle,  and  gone  back  to- 
wards the  settlement.  The  remainder  of  the  night  was 
spent  in  lamenting  for  the  death  of  our  friends.  At  day- 
light, I  blacked  my  face,  and  started  to  the  fort  to  see 
the  war  chief.  I  met  him  at  the  gate,  and  told  him 
what  had  happened.  His  countenance  changed ;  I  could 
lee  sorrow  depicted  in  it  for  the  death  of  my  people. 
He  tried  to  persuade  me  that  I  was  mistaken,  as  he 
^  could  not  believe  that  the  whites  would  act  so  cruelly.' 
But  when  I  convinced  him,  he  told  me  that  those 
^  eowai^  who  had  murdered  my  people  should  h%  pun- 


^ 


,/. 


'ft\ 


.-MS™.:<i-;'.:.      '■■ 


LIFB  OF  BLA.CK  HAWK. 


69 


ished/  I  told  him  that  my  people  would  have  revenge 
— that  they  would  not  trouble  any  of  his  people  of 
the  fort,  as  we  did  not  blame  him  or  any  of  his  sol- 
diers— but  thai  a  party  of  my  braves  would  go  towards 
the  Wabash  to  avenge  the  death  of  their  friends  and 
relations.  The  next  day  I  took  a  party  of  hunters  and 
killed  several  deer,  and  left  them  at  the  fort  gate  as  I 
passed.'^ 

Here  Gomo  ended  his  story.  I  could  relate  many 
similar  ones  that  have  comb  within  my  own  knowledge 
and  observation;  but  I  dislike  to  look  back  and  bring 
on  sorrow  afresh.     I  will  resume  my  narrative. 

The  great  chief  at  St.  Louis  having  sent  word  for 
us  to  go  down  and  confirm  the  treaty  of  peace,  we  did 
not  hesitate,  but  started  immediately,  that  we  might 
smoke  the  peace-pipe  with  him.  On  our  arrival,  we 
met  the  great  chiefs  in  council.  They  explained  to 
us  the  words  of  our  Great  Father  at  Washington,  ac- 
cusing us  of  heinous  crimes  and  divers  misdemeanors, 
particularly  in  not  coming  down  when  first  invited. 
We  knew  very  well  that  our  G  "at  Father  had  deceived 
us,  and  thereby  forced  us  to  join  the  British,  and  could 
not  believe  that  he  had  put  this  speech  into  the  mouths 
of  these  chiefs  to  deliver  to  us.  I  was  not  a  civil  chief, 
and  consequently  made  no  reply:  but  our  chiefs  told 
the  commissioners  thaf  what  they  had  said  was  a  lie! 
— ^that  our  Great  Father  had  sent  no  such  speech,  be 
knowing  the  situation  in  which  we  had  been  placed 
had  been  caueedby  himV^    The  white  chiefs  appeared 


%  -^ 


'Hf- 


TO 


LIPB  OF  BLACK  RAWX. 


i0' 


rerj  angry  at  this  reply,  and  said  they  *'  would  break 
off  the  treaty  with  us,  and  go  to  war^  as  they  would  not 
be  insulted." 

Our  chiefs  had  no  intention  of  insulting  them,  and 
told  them  so — ^**  that  they  merely  wished  to  explain  to 
them  that  they  had  told  a  lie,  without  making  them 
angry;  in  the  same  manner  that  the  whites  do,  when 
they  do  not  believe  what  is  told  them  I"  The  council 
then  proceeded,  and  the  pipe  of  peace  was  smoked. 

Here,  for  the  first  time,  1  touched  the  goose  quill  to 
the  treaty— not  knowing,  however,  that,  hy  that  act,  I 
consented  to  give  away  my  village.  Had  that  been 
explained  to  me,  I  should  have  opposed  it,  and  never 
would  have  signed  their  treaty,  as  my  recent  conduct 
will  clearly  prove. 

What  do  we  know  of  the  manner  of  the  laws  and 
customs  of  the  white  people?  They  might  buy  our 
bodies  for  dissection,  and  we  would  touch  the  goose 
quill  to  confirm  it,  without  knowing  what  we  are  doing. 
This  was  the  case  with  myself  and  people  in  touching 
the  goose  quill  the  first  time. 

We  can  only  judge  of  what  is  proper  and  right  by 
our  standard  of  right  and  wrong,  which  differs  widely 
from  the  whites,  if  I  have  been  correctly  informed. 
The  whites  may  do  ^ac^all  their  lives,  and  then,  if  they 
are  sorry  for  it  when  about  to  die,  all  is  well!  But 
with  us  it  is  different:  we  must  continue  throughout 
our  lives  to  do  what  we  conceive  to  be  good.  If  we 
have  corn  and  meat,  and  know  pf  a  family  that  hay« 


«■**'  t 


.^, 


.H 

'r-^ 


'■:•% 


UFE  OF  BLA.CK  HAWK. 


71 


none,  we  divide  with  them.  If  we  have  more  blan- 
kets than  sufficient,  and  others  have  not  enough,  we 
must  give  to  them  that  want.  But  I  will  presently 
explain  our  customs,  and  the  manner  we  live. 

-sW^e  were  friendly  treated  by  the  white  chiefs,  and 
started  back  to*our  village  on  Rock  river.  Here  we 
found  that  troops  had  arrived  to  build  a  fort  at  Rock 
Island.  This,  in  our  opinion,  was  a  contradiction  to 
what  we  had  done — "  to  prepare  for  war  in  time  of 
peace."  We  did  not,  however,  object  to  their  build- 
ing the  fort  on  the  island,  but  we  were  very  sorry,  as 
this  was  the  best  island  on  the  Mississippi,  and  had 
long  been  the  resort  of  our  young  people  during  the 
summer.  It  was  our  garden  (like  the  white  people 
have  near  to  their  big  villages)  which  supplied  us  with 
strawberries,  blackberries,  gooseberries,  plums,  apples, 
and  nuts  of  different  kinds;  and  its  waters  supplied  ut 
with  fine  fish,  being  situated  in  the  rapids  of  the  river. 
In  my  early  life,  I  spent  many  happy  days  on  this  island. 
A  good  spirit  had  care  of  it,  who  lived  in  a  cave  in  the 
rocks  immediately  under  the  place  where  the  fort  now 
stands,  and  has  often  been  seen  by  our  people.  He 
was  white,  with  large  wings  like  a  szoan'*, but  ten  timet 
larger.  We  were  particular  not  to  make  much  noit^e 
in  that  part  of  the  island  which  he  inhabited,  for  fear 
of  disturbing  him.  But  the  noise  of  the  fort  has  since 
driven  him  away,  and  no  doubt  a  bad  spirit  has  taken 
his  place ! 

Our  village  wai  situate  on  the  north  side  of  Rock 


72 


UFB  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


r 


river,  at  ibe  foot  of  its  rapids,  and  on  the  point  of  land 
between  Rock  river  and  tlie  Mississippi.  In  its  front, 
a  prairie  extended  to  the  bank  of  the  Mississippi;  and 
in  our  rear,  a  continued  bluffy  gently  ascending  from 
the  prairie.  On  the  side  of  this  bluff  we  had  our  corn- 
fields, extending  about  two  miles  up,  funning  parallel 
with  the  Mississippi ;  where  we  joined  those  of  the  Foxes, 
whose  village  was  on  the  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  oppo- 
site the  lowerend  of  Rock  Island,and  three  milesdistant 
from  ours.  We  had  about  eight  hundred  acres  in  cul- 
tivation, including  what  we  had  on  the  islands  of  Rock 
river.  The  land  around  our  village,  uncultivated,  was 
covered  with  blue-grass,  which  made  excellent  pasture 
for  our  hordes.  Several  fine  springs  broke  out  of  the 
bluff,  near  by,  from  which  we  were  supplied  with  good 
water.  The  rapids  of  Rock  river  furnished  us  with 
an  abundance  of  excellent  fish,  and  the  land,  being 
good,  never  failed  to  produce  good  crops  of  corn, 
beans,  pumpkins,  and  squashes.  We  always  had  plenty 
-—our  children  never  cried  with  hunger,  nor  our  people 
were  never  in  want.  Here  our  village  had  stood  for 
more  than  a  hundred  years,  during  all  which  time  we 
were  the  undisputed  possessors  of  the  valley  of  the 
Mississippi,  from  the  Ouisconsin  to  the  Portage  des 
Sioux,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Missouri,  being  about 
seven  hundred  miles  in  length. 

At  this  time  we  had  very  little  intercourse  with  the 
whites,  except  our  traders.  Our  village  was  healthy, 
and  there  was  no  place  in  the  country  possesiing  tucfa 


m. 


UFB  OV  BLACK  HAWK. 


73 


advantages,  nor  no  hunting  grounds  better  thaii  thos« 
we  had  in  possession.  If  another  prophet  had  come  to 
our  village  in  those  days,  and  told  us  what  has  since 
taken  place,  none  of  our  people  would  have  believed 
him.  What!  to  be  driven  from  our  village  and  hunting 
grounds,  and  not  even  permitted  to  visit  the  graves  of 
our  forefathers,  our  relations,  and  friends!  *    ^ 

This  hardship  is  not  known  to  the  whites.  With 
us  it  is  a  custom  to  visit  the  graves  of  our  friends,  and 
keep  them  in  repair  for  many  years.  The  mother  will 
go  alone  to  weep  over  the  grave  of  her  child!  The 
brave,  with  pleasure,  visits  the  grave  of  his  father,  after 
he  has  been  successful  in  war,  and  repaints  the  post 
that  shows  where  he  lies!  There  is  no  place  like  that 
where  the  bones  of  our  forefathers  lie,  to  go  to  when 
in  grief.     Here  the  Great  Spirit  will  take  pity  on  us! 

But,  how  ditTerent  is  our  situation  now,  from  what  it 
was  in  those  days!  Then  we  were  as  happy  as  the 
buffalo  on  the  plains — but  now,  we  are  as  miseraMe  as 
the  hungry  howling  wolf  in  the  prairie!  But  I  am 
digressing  from  my  story.  Bitter  reflection  crowds 
upon  my  mind,  and  must  And  utterance. 

When  we  returned  to  our  village  in  the  spring,  from 
our  wintering  grounds,  we  would  finish  trading  with 
our  traders,  who  always  followed  us  to  cur  village.  We 
purposely  kept  some  of  our  fine  furs  ibr  this  trade; 
and,  as  there  was  great  opposition  among  them,  who 
should  get  these  skins,  we  always  got  our  goods  cheap. 
After  this  trade  was  over,  the  traders  would  give  us  a 


'mm^ 


w^^ 


mm 


mm 


0: 


74 


^l» 


MFB  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


1^ 


few  kegs  of  mm,  which  was  generally  promised  io  the 
fall,  io  encourage  us  to  m«'tke  a  good  hunt,  and  npt  go 
to  war.  They  would  then  start  with  their  fura  and 
peltries  for  their  homes.  Our  old  men  would  t^ke  a 
frolic,  (at  this  time  our  young  men  never  drank.) 
When  this  was  ended,  the  next  thing  to  be  done  was 
to  bury  our  dead,  (such  as  had  died  during  the  year.) 
This  is  a  great  medicine  feanU  The  relations  of  those 
who  have  died,  give  all  the  goods  they  have  purchased} 
as  presents  to  their  friends — thereby  reducing  them- 
selves to  poverty,  to  show  the  Great  Spirit  that  they 
are  humble,  so  that  he  will  take  pity  on  them.  We 
^  would  next  open  the  cashes,  and  take  out  corn  and 
other  provisions,  which  had  been  put  up  in  the  fall, — 
and  then  commence  rcparing  our  lodges.  As  soon  as 
this  is  accomplished,  we  repair  the  fences  around  our 
fields,  and  clean  them  off*,  ready  for  planting  corn. 
This  work  is  done  by  our  women.  The  men,  during 
this  time,  are  feasting  on  dried  venison,  bear's  meat, 
wild  fowl,  and  corn,  prepared  in  different  ways;  and 
recounting  to  each  other  what  took  place  during  the 
winter. 

Our  women  plant  the  corn,  and  as  soon  as  they  get 
dfbne,  we  make  a  feast  and  dance  the  crane  dance,  in 
which  they  join  us,  dressed  in  their  best,  and  decorated 
with  feathers.  At  this  feast  our  young  braves  select 
the  young  woman  they  wish  to  have  for  u  wife.  He 
then  informs  his  mother,  who  calls  on  the  mother  of  the 
girl,  when  the  arrangement  is  made,  and  the  time  ap- 


.»• 


UWE  OF  BliAOK  HAWK. 


75 


pointed  for  him  to  come.  He  goes  to  the  lo^e  when 
all  are  asleep,  (or  pretend  to  be,)  lights  his  matches, 
which  have  been  provided  for  the  purpose,  and  soon 
finds  where  his  intended  sleeps.  He  then  awakens  her, 
and  holds  the  light  to  his  face  that  she  may  know 
him — after  which  he  places  the  light  close  to  her.  If 
she  blows  it  out,  the  ceremony  is  ended,  and  he  ap- 
pears in  the  lodge  the  next  morning,  as  one  of  the 
family.  If  she  docs  not  blow  out  the  light,  but  leaves 
it  to  burn  out,  he  retires  from  the  lodge.  The  next 
day  he  places  himself  in  full  view  of  it,  and  plays  his 
flute.  Tlie  young  women  go  out,  one  by  one,  to  see 
who  he  is  playing  for.  The  tune  changes,  to  let  them 
know  that  he  is  not  playing  for  them.  When  his  in- 
tended makes  her  appearance  at  the  door,  ue  continues 
his  courting  tune,  until  she  returns  to  the  lodge.  He 
then  givcsover  playing,and  makes  anothertrial  at  nighty 
which  generally  turns  out  favorable.  During  the  first 
year  they  ascertain  whether  they  can  agree  with  each 
other,  and  can  be  happy — if  not,  they  part,  and  each 
looks  out  again.  If  we  were  to  live  together  and  disa- 
gree we  should  be  as  foolish  as  the  whites.  No  indis- 
cretion can  banish  a  woman  from  her  parental  lodge — 
lio  difference  how  many  children  she  may  bring  home, 
she  is  always  welcome — the  kettle  is  over  the  fire  to 
feed  them. 

The  crane  dance  often  lasts  two  or  three  days. — 
When  this  is  over,  we  feast  again,  and  have  our  7to- 
mmtU  dance.    The  large  square  in  the  village  is  swept 


,v 


^^^mm 


>'M 


v\ 


76 


LIFE  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


and  pre)>ared  for  the  purpose.  The  chiefs  and  old 
warriors^  take  seats  on  mats  which  have  been  spread 
at  the  upper  end  of  the  square — the  drummers  and 
singers  come  next,  and  the  braves  and  women  form 
the  sides,  leaving  a  large  space  in  the  middle.  The 
drums  beat,  and  the  singers  commence.  A  warrior  en' 
ters  the  square,  keeping  time  with  the  music.  He  shows 
the  manner  he  starfed  on  a  war  party — how  he  ap- 
proached the  enemy — he  strikes,  and  describes  the 
way  he  kilhd  him.  Ail  join  in  applause.  He  theft 
leaves  the  square,  and  another  etiters  and  takes  his 
place.  Such  of  our  young  men  as  have  not  been  out 
in  war  parties,  and  killed  at^  enemy,  stand  back 
ashamed — not  being  able  to  eiiier  the  square.  I  re- 
member that  I  vfHS  ashamed  to  look  where  our  young 
women  stood,  before  I  could  take  my  stand  in  the  square 
as  a  warrior. 

What  pleasure  it  is  to  an  old  warrior,  to  see  his  son 
come  forward  and  relate  his  exploits — it  makes  him 
feel  young,  and  induces  him  to  enter  the  square,  and 
**  fight  his  battles  o'er  again." 

This  national  dance  makes  our  warriors.  When  I 
was  travelling  last  summer,  on  a  steam  boat,  on  a  large 
river,  going  from  New  York  to  Albany,  I  was  shown 
the  place  where  the  Americans  dance  their  national 
dance  [West  Point];  where  the  old  warriors  recount 
to  their  young  men,  what  they  have  done,  to  stimulate 
them  to  go  and  do  likewise.  This  surprised  me,  as  I 
did  not  think  the  whites  understood  our  way  of  making 
braves.  ^ 


t ''' 


t 


\^ 


UFB  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


77 


When  our  national  dance  is  over — our  corn-fields 
hoed,  and  every  weed  dug  up,  and  our  corn  about 
knee-high,  all  our  young  men  would  start  in  a  direction 
towards  sun-down,  to  hunt  deer  and  buffalo — being 
prepared  also  to  kill  8ionx,  if  any  are  found  on  our 
hunting  grounds — a  part  of  our  old  men  and  women 
to  the  lead  mines  to  make  lead — and  the  remainder  of 
our  people  start  to  fish,  and  get  mat  stuff.  Every  one 
leaves  the  village,  and  remains  about  forty  days.  They 
then  return:  the  hunting  party  bringing  in  dried  buf- 
falo and  deer  meat,  and  sometimes  Sioux  scalps,,  when 
they  n^e  found  trespassing  on  our  hunting  grounds.  At 
other  times  they  are  met  by  a  party  of  Sioux  too  strong 
for  them,  and  are  driven  in.  If  the  Sioux  have  killed 
the  Sacs  last,  they  expect  to  be  retaliated  upon,  and 
will  fly  before  them,  and  vice  versa.  Each  party 
knows  that  the  other  has  a  right  to  retaliate,  which  in- 
duces those  who  have  killed  last,  to  give  way  before 
their  enemy — as  neither  wish  to  strike,  except  to 
avenge  the  death  of  their  relatives.  Ail  our  wars  are 
predicated  by  the  relatives  of  those  killed;  or  by  ag- 
gressions upon  our  hunting  grounds. 

The  party  from  the  lead  mines  bring  lead,  and  the 
others  dried  fish,  and  mats  for  our  winter  lodges.  Pre- 
lents  are  now  made  by  each  party;  the  first,  giving 
to  the  others  dried  buffalo  and  deer,  and  they,  in  ex- 
change, presenting  them  with  lead,  dried  fish  and  mats. 
This  is  a  happy  season  of  the  year — having  plenty  of 
provisions,  such  ^s  beans,  squashes,  and  other  produce, 

*7 


Sr!'  . 


HH 


Si 


wmm 


« » 


T8 


tdWm  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


with  our  dried  meat  and  fish,  we  continue  to  make 
feasts  and  visit  each  other,  until  our  corn  is  ripe.  Some 
lodge  in  the  village  makes  a  feast  daily,  to  the  Great 
Spirit.  I  cannot  explain  this  so  that  the  white  people 
would  comprehend  me,  as  we  have  no  regular  standard 
among  us.  Every  one  makes  his  feast  as  he  thinks 
best,  to  please  the  Great  Spirit,  who  has  the  care  of  all 
beings  created.  Others  believe  in  two  Spirits:  one 
good  and  one  bad,  and  make  feasts  for  the  Bad  Spirit, 
to  keep  him  quiet!  If  they  can  make  peace  with  him, 
the  Good  Spirit  will  not  hurt  .them!  For  my  part,  I 
am  of  opinion,  that  so  far  as  we  have  reason,  we  have 
a  right  to  use  it,  in  determining  what  is  right  or  wrong; 
and  should  pursue  that  path  which  we  believe  to  be 
right — believing,  that  "whatever  is,  is  right.'*  If  the 
Great  and  Goorl  Spirit  wished  us  to  believe  and  do  as 
the  whites,  he  could  easily  change  our  opinions,  so 
that  we  would  see,  and  think,  and  act  as  they  do. 
We  are  nothing  compared  to  His  power,  and  we 
feel  and  know  it.  We  have  men  among  us,  like  the 
whites,  who  pretend  to  know  the  right  path,  but  will 
not  consent  to  show  it  without  ;)ay/  I  have  no  faith 
in  their  paths — but  believe  that  every  man  must  make 
his  own  path! 

When  our  corn  is  getting  ripe,  our  young  people 
watch  with  anxiety  for  the  signal  to  pull  roasting  ears — 
as  none  dare  touch  them  until  the  proper  time.  When 
the  corn  is  fit  to  use,  another  great  ceremony  takes 


\  .'T^-**^-?* 


18 


*      LIFB  OF  BLACK  HAWK* 


79 


place,  with  feasting,  and  returning  thanks  to  the  Great 
Spirit  for  giving  us  corn. 

I  will  here  relate  the  manner  in  which  corn  first 
came.  According  to  tradition,  handed  down  to  our 
people,  a  beautiful  woman  was  seen  to  descend  from 
the  clouds,  and  alight  upon  the  earth,  by  two  of  our 
ancestors,  who  had  killed  a  deer,  and  were  sitting  by 
a  fire,  roasting  a  part  of  it  to  eat.  They  were  aston- 
ished at  seeing  her,  and  concluded  that  she  must  be 
hungry,  and  had  smelt  the  meat — and  immediately 
went  to  her,  taking  with  them  a  piece  of  the  roasted 
venison.  They  presented  i(  to  her,  and  she  eat — and 
told  them  to  return  to  the  spot  where  she  was  sitting, 
at  the  end  of  one  year,  and  they  would  find  a  reward 
for  their  kindness  and  generosity.  She  then  ascended 
to  the  clouds,  and  disappeared.  The  two  men  returned 
to  their  village,  and  explained  to  the  nation  what  they 
had  seen,  done,  and  heard — but  were  laughed  at  by 
their  people.  When  the  per'od  arrived,  for  them  to 
visit  this  consecrated  ground,  v^her**  they  were  to  find 
a  reward  for  their  attention  to  liie  It  autiful  woman  of 
the  clouds,  they  went  with  ■..  J:  r^,- ^  f-arty,  and  found, 
where  her  right  hand  i.dd  ;e  k*tl  :  the  ground,  corn 
growing — and  where  tijc  i^*t  i,  «i.  had  rested,  beans, 
and  immediately  where  she  had  been  seated,  tobacco* 

The  two  first  have,  ever  since,  been  cultivated  by 
•ur  people,  as  our  principal  proirisions — and  the  last 
used  for  smoking.    The  white  people  have  since  found 


Ll 


<^mtm 


^^mmmmifmmi§ 


80      - 


•^ 


UFB  OF  BLACK  HAWK.       '*. 


I 


il 


h 


out  the  latter,  and  seem  to  relish  it  as  much  as  we  do-^ 
as  they  use  it  in  different  ways,  viz.  smoking,  snuffing 
and  eating! 

'  We  thank  the  Great  Spirit  for  ail  the  benefits  he 
has  conferred  upon  us.  For  myself,  I  never  take  a 
drink  of  water  from  a  sprir^g,  without  being  mindful 
of  his  goodness. 

We  next  have  our  great  ball  play — from  three  to 
five  hundred  on  a  side,  play  this  game.  We  play  for 
horses,  guns,  blankets,  or  any  other  kind  of  property 
we  have.  The  successful  party  take  the  stakes,  and 
all  retire  to  our  lodges  in. peace  and  friendship. 

We  next  commence  horse-racing,  and  continue  our 
sport  and  feasting,  until  the  corn  is  all  secured.  We 
then  prepare  to  leave  our  village  for  our  hunting 
grounds.  The  traders  arrive,  and  give  us  credit  for 
such  articles  as  we  want  to  clothe  our  families,  and 
enable  us  to  hunt.  We  first,  however,  hold  a  council 
with  them,  to  ascertain  the  price  they  will  give  us 
for  our  skins,  and  what  they  will  charge  us  for  goods. 
We  inform  them  where  we  intend  hunting — and  tell 
them  where  to  build  their  houses.  At  this  place,  we 
deposit  part  of  our  corn,  and  leave  our  t  Id  people. 
The  traders  have  always  been  kind  to  them,  and  relie- 
ved them  when  in  want.  They  were  always  much 
respected  by  our  people — and  never  since  we  have 
been  a  nation,  has  one  of  them  been  killed  by  any  of 
our  people. 

We  disperse,  in  small  parties,  to  make  our  hunt, 


1 


^      LIPE  OF  BLACK  HAW<> 


81 


e  do— - 
nuffing 

efits  he 

take  a 

nindfiil 

hree  to 
)lay  for 
roperty 
:es,  and 

nue  our 

I.     We 

lunting 

jdit  for 

es,  and 

council 

live  MS 

goods. 

md  tell 

ice,  we 

people. 

d  relic- 

}  much 

;  have 

any  of 

r  hunt, 


and  as  soon  as  it  is  over,  we  return  to  our  trader's  es- 
tablishment, fifith  our  stains,  and  remain  feasting,  play- 
ing cards,  and  other  pastimes,  until  near  the  close  of 
the  winter.  Our  young  mep  then  start  on  the  beaver 
hunt;  others  to  hunt  racoons  and  muskrats — and  the 
remainder  of  our  people  go  to  the  sugar  camps  to  make 
sugar.  All  leave  our  encampment,  and  appoint  a 
place  to  meet  on  the  Mississippi,  so  that  we  may  re- 
turn to  our  village  together,  in  the  spring.  We  al- 
ways spent  our  time  pleasantly  at  the  sugar  camp.  It 
being  the  season  for  wild  fowl,  we  lived  well,  and  al- 
ways had  plenty,  when  the  hunters  came  in,  that  we 
might  make  a  feast  for  them.  After  this  is  over,  we 
return  to  our  village,  accompanied,  sometimes,  by  our 
traders.  In  this  way,  the  year  rolled  round  happily* 
But  these  are  times  that  were! 

On  returning  in  the  spring,  from  our  hunting 
ground,  I  had  the  pleasure  of  fheeting  our  old  friend^ 
the  trader  of  Peoria,  at  Rock  Island.^  He  came  up  in 
a  boat  from  St.  Louis,  not  as  a  trader,  as  in  times  past,, 
but  as  our  agent.  We  were  all  pleased  to  see  him. 
He  told  us,  that  he  narrowly  escaped  falling  into  the 
hands  of  Dixon.  He  remained  with  as  a  short  time^ 
gave  us  good  advice,  and  then  returned  to  St.  Louis/ 
The  Sioux  having  committed  depredations  on  our 
people,  we  sent  out  war  parties  that  summer  who  suc- 
ceeded in  killing  fourteen,  I  paid  several  visits  to  fort 
Armstrong  during  the  summer,  and  was  always  well 
treated.    We  were  not  as  happy  then  io  our  village 


• 


^mmmmm 


r 


^<.. 


If 


~p 


82 


I 


MFB  OF  BLACK  RAWK. 


-*?>■ 


as  formerly.  Oar  people  got  more  liquor  than  custom- 
ary. I  used  all  my  influence  to  prevent  drunkenness, 
but  without  effect.  As  the  settlements  progressed  to- 
wards us.  we  became  worse  off,  and  more  unhappy. 
Many  of  our  people,  instead  of  going  to  their  old  hunt- 
ing grompds,  where  game  was  plenty,  would  go  near  to 
the  settlements  to  hunt — and,  instead  of  savio|;  their 
fkins  to  pay  the  trader  for  goods  furnished  them  in  the 
fall,  would  sell  them  to  the  settlers  for  whisky!  and 
return  in  the  spring  with  tlieir  families,  almost  naked, 
and  without  the  means  of  getting  any  thing  for  them. 
^  About  this  time  my  elde&t  son  was  taken  sick  and 
died.  He  had  always  been  a  dutiful  child,  and  had 
just  grown  to  manhood.  Soon  after,  my  youngest 
daughter,  an  interesting  and  affectionate  child,  died 
also.  This  was  a  hard  stroke,  because  I  loved  my 
children.  In  my  distress,  I  left  the  noise  of  the  village, 
and  built  my  lodge  ori  a  mound  in  my  corn-field,  and 
enclosed  it  with  a  fence,  around  which  1  planted  corn 
and  beans.  Here  I  was  with  my  family  alone.  I  gave 
every  thing  I  had  away,  and  reduced  myself  to  poverty. 
The  only  covering  I  retained,  was  a  piece  of  buffalo 
robe.  I  resolved  on  blacking  my  face  and  fasting,  for 
two  years,  for  the  loss  of  my  two  children — drinking 
only  of  water  in  the  middle  of  the  day,  and  eating  spa- 
ringly of  boiled  corn  at  sunset.  I  fulfilled  my  promise, 
hoping  that  the  Great  Spirit  would  <nke  pity  on  me. 

My  nation  had  now  some  difficulty  with  the  loways, 
with  whom  we  wished  to  be  at  peace.     Our  young 


^    LIFB  07  BLACK  HAWK. 


83 


men  had  repeatedly  killed  some  of  the  loways;  and 
tihese  breachet  had  always  been  made  up  by  giving 
presents  to  the  relations  of  tl^ose  killed.  But  the  last 
council  we  had  with  them,  we  promised  that,  in  case 
any  more  of  their  people  were  killed  by  ours,  instead 
of  presents,  we  would  give  up  the  person,  or  persons, 
that  had  done  the  injury.  We  made  this  determina- 
tion known  to  our  people;  but,  notwithstanding,  one 
of  our  young  men  killed  an  loway  the  following  winter. 
A  party  of  our  people  were  about  starting  for  iJtie 
loway  village  to  give  the  young  man  up.  I  agreed  to 
accompany  them.  When  we  were  ready  to  start,  I 
called  at  the  lodge  for  the  young  man  to  go  with.  us. 
He  was  sick,  but  willing  to  go.  His  brother,  however, 
prevented  him,  and  insisted  on  going  to  die  in  his 
place,  as  his  brother  was  unable  to  travel.  We  start- 
ed, and  on  the  seventh  day  arrived  in  sight  of  the  lo- 
way village,  and  when  within  a  short  diatance  of  it, 
halted  and  dismounted.  We  all  bid  farewell  to  our 
young  brave,  who  entered  the  village  alone,  singing 
his  death-song,  and  sat  down  in  the  squarr^  \u  the  middle 
of  the  village.  One  of  the  loway  chiefs  came  out  to  us. 
We  told  him  that  we  had  fulfilled  our  promise — that 
we  had  brought  the  brother  of  the  young  man  who  had 
killed  one  of  their  people — that  he  had  volunteered  to 
come  in  his  place,  in  consequence  of  his  brother  being 
unable  to  travel  from  sickness.  We  had  no  further 
conversation,  but  mounted  our  horses  and  rode  off.  As 
we  started,  I  cast  my  eye  towards  the  village,  and  ob- 


k  -^ 


memmmm 


mm^mmmfl' 


84 


LIFE  OP  BLACK  HAWK.     ^ 


6.  i-. 


kl-, 


•erved  ttie  loways  coming  out  of  their  lodges  with 
.gpears  and  war  clubs.  We  took  our  trail  l^ack,  and 
travelled  until  dark — then  encamped  and  maide  a  fire. 
We  had  not  been  here  long,  before  we  heard  the  sound 
of  horses  coming  towards  us.  We  seized  our  arms; 
but  instead  of  an  enemy,  it  was  our  young  brave  with 
two  horses.  He  told  me  that  after  we  had  left  him, 
.they  menaced  him  with  death  for  sometime — then  gave 
him  something  to  eat — smoked  the  pipe  with  him — and 
made  him  a  present  of  the  two  horses  and  some  goods, 
and  started  him  after  us.  When  we  arrived  at  our 
village,  our  people  were  much  pleased;  and  for  the 
noble  and  generous  conduct  of  the  loways,  on  this  oc- 
casion, not  one  of  their  people  has  been  killed  since  by 
any  of  our  nation. 

That  fall  I  visited  Maiden  with  several  of  my  band, 
and  were  well  treated  by  our  British  father,  who  gave 
us  a  variety  of  presents.  He  also  gave  me  a  medal, 
and  told  me  there  never  would  be  war  between  Eng- 
land and  America  again;  but,  for  my  fidelity  to  the 
British  during  the  war  that  had  terminated  sometime 
before,  requested  me  to  come  with  my  band  every  year 
and  get  presents,  as  Col.  Dixon  had  promised  me. 

I  returned,  and  hunted  that  winter  on  the  Two-Riv- 
ers. The  whites  were  now  settling  the  country  fast. 
I  was  out  one  day  hunting  in  a  bottom,  and  met  three 
white  meti.  They  aroused  me  of  killing  their  hogs:  I 
denied  it;  but  they  would  not  listen  to  me.  One  of 
them  took  my  gun  out  of  my  hand  and  fired  it  off— 


■^       UFE  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


85 


then  took  out  the  flint,  gave  hack  my  gun,  and  com- 
menced beating  me  with  sticks,  and  ordered  me  off. 
I  was  so  much  bruised  that  I  could  not  ulcep  for 
several  nights. 

Some  time  after  this  occurrence,  one  of  my  camp 
cut  a  bee-tree,  and  carried  the  honey  to  his  lodge. 
A  party  of  white  men  soon  followed,  and  told  him 
that  the  bee-tree  was  theirs,  and  that  he  had  no  right 
to  cut  it.  He  pointed  to  the  honey,  and  told  them 
to  take  it;  they  were  not  satisfied  with  this,  but  took 
all  the  packs  of  skins  that  he  had  collected  during  the 
winter,  to  pay  his  trader  and  clothe  his  family  wiili  i^ 
the  spring,  and  carried  them  off! 

How  could  we  like  such  people,  who  treated  us  so 
unjustly?  We  determined  to  break  up  our  camp,  for 
fear  that  they  would  do  worse — and  when  we  joined 
our  people  in  the  spring,  a  great  many  of  them  com- 
plained of  similar  treatment. 

This  summer  our  agent  came  to  live  at  Rock  Island. 
He  treated  us  well,  and  gave  us  good  advice.  I  visited 
him  and  the  trader  very  often  during  the  summer,  and, 
for  the  first  time,  heard  talk  of  our  having  to  leave  my 
village.  The  trader  explained  to  me  the  terms  of  the 
treaty  that  had  been  made,  and  said  we  would  be 
obliged  to  leave  the  Illinois  side  of  the  Mississippi, 
and  aJvised  us  to  select  a  good  place  for  our  village 
and  remove  to  it  in  the  spring.  He  pointed  out  the 
difficulties  we  would  have  to  encounter,  if  we  remained 
at  our  village  on  Rock  river.     He  had   great  in  flu- 


m' 


'i^ 


86 


«FB  WVLACK  HAWK.      ^ 


ence  with  the  principal  Fox  chief,  (hia  adopted  broth- 
er,)  and  persuaded  him  to  leave  his  village,  and  go 
to  the  west  side  tif  the  Mississippi  river,  and  build 
another — which  he  did  the  spring  following. 

Nothing  was  now  ttliked  of  but  leaving  our  village. 
Ke-o-kuck  had  been  persuaded  to  consent  to  go;  and 
was  using  all  his  influence,  backed  by  the  war  chief 
at  fort  Armstrong,  and  our  agent  and  trader  at  Rock 
Island,  to  induce  others  to  go  with  him.  He  sent  the 
crier  through  the  village  to  inform  our  people  that  it 
was  the  wish  of  our  Great  Father  that  we  should  re- 
move to  the  west  side  of  the  Mississippi — and  recom- 
mended the  lowaj  river  at  a  good  place  for  the  new 
village — and  wished  his  party  to  make  such  arrange- 
ments, before  they  started  out  on  their  winter'^faunt,  as 
to  preclude  the  necessity  of  their  returning  to  the  vil- 
lage in  the  spring. 

The  party  oppoiied  to  removing,  called  upon  me  for 
my  opinion.  I  gave  it  freely — and  after  questioning 
Quash-qua-me  about  the  sale  of  the  lands,  he  assured 
me  that  he  "never  had  consented  to  the  sale  of  our 
village."  I  now  promised  this  party  to  be  their  leader, 
and  raised  the  standard  of  opposition  to  Ke-o-kuck, 
with  a  full  determination  not  to  leave  my  village.  I 
had  an  interview  with  Ke-o-kuck,  to  see  if  this  difficul- 
ty could  not  be  settled  with  our  Great  Father — and 
told  him  to  propose  to  give  nther  land,  (any  that  our 
Great  Father  might  choose,  even  our  lead  mines,)  to  be 
peaceably  permitted  to  keep  the  small  point  of  land  on 


Mk 


'^         UFB  OF  BLACK  HAWK.  .^ 

which  our  village  and  fields  were  situate.  I  was  of 
opinion  that  the  white  people  had  plenty  of  land,  find 
would  never  take  our  village  from  us.  Ke-orkuck 
promised  to  make  an  exchange  if  possible ;  and  applied 
to  our  agent,  and  the  great  chief  at  St.  Louis,  (who 
has  charge  of  all  the  agents^)  for  permission  to  go  to 
Washington  to  see  our  Great  Father  for  'iiat  purpose. 
This  satisfied  us  for  some  time.  We  started  to  our 
hunting  grounds,  in  good  hopes  that  something  would 
be  done  for  us.  During  the  winter,  I  received  infor- 
mation that  three  families  of  whites  had  arrived  at  our 
village,  and  destroyed  some  of  our  lodges,  and  were 
making  fences  and  dividing  our  corn-fields  for  their 
own  use — and  were  quarrelling  among  themselves  about 
iknr  Unes^in  the  division!  I  immediately  started  for 
Rock  river,  a  distance  of  ten  day's  travel,  and  on  my 
arrival,  found  the  report  to  he  true.  I  went  to  my 
lodge,  and  saw  a  family  occupying  it.  I  wished  to 
talk  with  them,  but  they  could  not  understand  me.  I 
Jthen  went  to  Rock  Island,  and  (the  agent  being  ab- 
sent,) told  the  interpreter  what  I  wanted  to  say  to  those 
people,  viz:  "Not  to  settle  on  our  lands — nor  trouble 
our  lodges  or  fences — that  there  was  plenty  of  land  in 
the  country  for  them  to  settle  upon — and  they  must 
leave  our  village,  as  #e  were  coming  back  to  it  in  the 
spring."  The  interpreter  wrote  me  a  paper,  and  I 
went  back  to  the  village,  and  showed  it  to  the  intrud- 
ers, but  could  not  understand  their  reply.  I  expected, 
however,  that  they  would    remove,  as  I  requested 


•^'•'^mw^mmm 


rw^mii^fmmw^^- 


iP  LIFB  OF  BLACK   HAWK. 

them.  I  returned  to  Rock  Island,  passed  the  night 
,  there,  and  had  a  long  conversation  with  the  trader. 
He  again  advised  me  to  give  up,  and  make  my  village 
with  Ke-o-kuck,  on  the  loway  river.  I  told  him  that 
I  would  not.  The  next  morning  I  crossed  the  Missis- 
sippi, on  very  bad  ice — but  the  Great  Spirit  made  it 
strong,  that  I  might  pass  over  safe.  I  travelled  three 
days  farther  to  see  the  Winnebago  sub-agent,  and  con- 
verse with  him  on  the  subject  o(  our  difficulties.  He 
gave  me  no  better  news  than  the  trader  had  done.  I 
started  then,  by  way  of  Rock  river,  to  see  the  prophet, 
believing  that  he  was  a  man  of  great  knowledge. 
When  we  met,  I  explained  to  him  every  thing  as  it 
was.  He  at  once  agreed  that  I  was  right,  and  advised 
me  never  to  give  up  our  village,  for  the  whites  to  plough 
up  the  bones  of  our  people.  He  said,  that  if  we 
remained  at  our  village,  the  whites  would  not  trouble 
us — and  advised  me  to  get  Ke-o-kuck,  and  the  party 
that  had  consented  to  go  with  him  to  the  loway  in  the 
spring,  to  return,  and  remain  at  our  village. 

I  returned  to  my  hunting  ground,  after  an  absence 
of  one  moon,  and  related  what  I  had  done.  In  a 
short  time  we  came  up  to  our  village,  and  found  that  the 
whites  had  not  left  it — but  that  others  had  come, 
and  that  the  greater  part  of  our  corn-fields  had  been 
enclosed.  When  we  landed,  the  whites  appeared 
displeased  becaui^e  we  had  come  back.  We  repaired 
the  lodges  that  had  been  left  standing,  and  built  others. 
Ke-o-kuck  came  to  the  village;  but  his  object  was  to 


t'l 


■^"^^■IHWPWWWJmn 


mm 


mm 


mmmmmmifm^ 


Urm  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 

penuade  others  to  follow  him  to  the  loway.  He  had 
aecompltibed  nothing  towarc^j  making  arrangements 
for  us  to  remain,  or  ttf  exchange  other  lands  for  our 
village.  There  was  no  more  friendship  existing 
between  us.  I  loolced  upon  him  as  a  coward,  and  no 
brave,  to  al^andon  his  village  to  be  occupied  by  stran- 
gers. What  right  had  these  people  to  our  village,  and 
our  fields  which  the  Great  Spirit  had  given  us  to  live 
upon? 

My  '  eason  teaches  me  that  land  cannot  be  sold.  The 
Great  Spirit  gave  it  to  his  children  to  live  upon,  and 
cultivate,  as  far  as  is  necessary  for  their  subsistence; 
and  so  long  as  they  occupy  and  cultivate  it,  they  have 
the  right  to  the  soil — but  if  they  voluntarily  leave  it, 
then  any  other  people  have  a  right  to  settle  upon  it. 
Nothing  can  be  sold,  but  such  things  hj  can  be  car- 
ried away. 

In  consequence  of  the  improvements  of  the  intruders 
on  our  fields,  we  found  considerable  difficulty  to  get 
ground  to  plant  a  little  corn.  Some  of  the  whites  per- 
mitted us  to  plant  small  patches  in  the  fields  they  had 
fenced,  keeping  all  the  best  ground  for  themselves. 
Our  women  had  great  difficulty  in  climbing  theirfences, 
(being  unaccustomed  to  the  kind,)  and  were  ill-treated 
if  they  left  a  rail  down. 

One  of  my  old  friends  thought  he  was  safe.     His 

corn-field  was  on  a  small  island  of  Rock  river.     He 

planted  his  corn;  it  came  up  well — but  the  white  man 

saw  it! — he  wanted  the  island,  and  took  his  team  over, 

*8 


% 


90 


ura  OF  BLAOK  HAWK. 


ploughed  up  the  coni)  and  re-planted  it  for  himself! 
The  old  man  shed  tears;  not  for  himself,  but-  the  dis- 
tress his  family  would  b^  in  if  thej  raised  no  corn. 

The  white  people  brought  whisky  into  our  viUage, 
made  our  people  drunk,  and  cheated  them  out  of  their 
horses,  guns,  and  traps!  This  fraudulekit . system  was 
carried  to  such  an  extent  that  I  apprehended  serious 
difficulties  might  take  place,  unless  a  stop  was  put  to 
it.  Consequently,  I  visited  all  the  whites  and  begged 
them  Mot  to  nell  whisky  to  my  people.  One  of  them 
continued  the  practice  openly.  I  took  a  party  of  my 
young  men,  went  to  bis  house,  and  took  out  his  barrel 
and  broke  in  the  head  and  turned  out  the  whisky.  I 
did  this  for  fear  some  of  the  whites  might  be  killed  by 
my  people  when  drunk.  W» 

Our  people  were  treated  badly  by  the  whites  on 
many  occasions.  At  one  time,  a  white  man  beat  one 
of  our  women  cruelly,  for  pulling  a  few  suckers  of  corn 
out  of  his  field,  to  suck,  when  hungry!  At  another 
time,  one  of  our  young  men  was  beat  with  clubs  by 
two  white  men  for  opening  a  fence  which  crossed  our 
road,  to  take  his  horse  through.  His  shoulder  blade 
was  broken,  and  his  body  badly  bruised,  from  which 
he  soon  after  died! 

Bad,  and  cruel,  as  our  people  were  treated  by  the 
whites,  not  one  of  them  was  hurt  or  molested  by  any  of 
my  band.  I  hope  this  wiH  prove  that  we  are  a  peace- 
able people — having  permitted  ten  men  to  take  pos- 
Siession  of  our  corn-fields;  prerent  us  from  planting 


UFB  OF  BLACK  BAWK. 


91 


corn;  burn  and  destroy  our  lodges;  ill-treat  our  women; 
and  beat  to  death  our  men,  without  olTering  resistance 
to  their  barbarous  cruelties.  This  is  a  lesson  worthj 
for  the  white  man  to  learn :  to  use  forbearance  when 
injured. 

We  acquainted  our  agent  daily  with  our  situation, 
and  through  him,  the  great  chief  at  St.  Louis — and 
hoped  that  something  would  be  done  for  us.  The 
whites  were  complaining  at  the  same  time  that  wt 
were  intruding  upon  iheir  rights!  They  made  them- 
selves out  the  injured  party,  and  we  the  intruders!  and 
called  loudly  to  the  great  war  chief  to  protect  their 
property! 

How  smooth  must  be  the  language  of  the  whites, 
when  they  can  make  right  look  like  wrong,  and  wrong 
like  right. 

During  this  summer,  I  happened  at  Rock  Island, 
when  a  great  chief  arrived,  whom  I  had  known  as  the 
great  chief  of  Illinois,  [governor  Cole,]  in  company 
with  another  chief,  who,  I  have  been  told,  is  a  great 
writer,  [judge  Jas.  Hall.]  I  called  upon  them,  and 
begged  to  explain  to  them  the  grievances  under  which 
me  and  my  people  were  laboring,  hoping  that  they 
could  do  something  for  us.  The  great  chief,  however, 
did  not  seem  disposed  to  council  with  me.  He  said  he 
was  no  longer  the  great  chief  of  Illinois — that  his  chil- 
dren had  selected  another  father  in  his  stead,  and  that 
he  now  only  ranked  as  they  did.  I  was  surprised  at 
this  talk,  as  I  had  always  heard  that  he  was  a  good, 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


1.1 


l^|2|8     125 


u^m 


■  2.2 

lit 


us 


14.0 


1^ 


11.25  III  1.4 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


\ 


4^ 


H>^ 


<> 


V 


<*  >^  '^kX 


23  WIST  MAIN  STIIIT 

WnSTIR.N.Y.  USM 

(716)t72-4903 


'4^ 


K 

^ 


^ 


mmmmmm&mnwm 


np 


^P^iiiiiiliPPPipiiiliiilP 


■*>■ 


*'    ■» 


d2 


Ura  Of  BLACK  BAWK. 


brave,  and  great  chief.  But  the  white  people  nerer 
apf«ar  to  be  satisfied.  When  they  get  a  good  father, 
thef  hold  eouncils,  (at  the  suggestion  of  some  bad, 
ambitious  man,  who  wants  the  place  himself,)  and  con- 
clude, among  themselves,  that  this  man,  or  some  other 
equally  ambitious,  would  make  a  better  father  than 
they  have,  and  nine  times  out  of  ten  they  don't  get  as 
good  a  one  again. 

I  insisted  on  eiplaining  to  these  two  chiefs  the  true 
situation  of  my  people.  They  gave  their  assent:  I 
rose  and  made  a  speech,  in  which  I  explained  to  them 
the  treaty  made  by  Quash-quil-me^  and  three  of  our 
braves,  according  to  the  mannei^^e  trader  and  others 
had  explained  it  to  me.  I  then  told  them  that  Qua^h- 
qua-me  and  his  party  denied,  positively,  having  ever 
sold  my  village;  and  that,  as  I  had  never  known  them 
to  lie,  I  was  detprmined  to  keep  it  in  possession. 

I  told  them  that  the  white  people  had  already  enter- 
ed our  village,  6urn/  our.  lodges,  destroyed  our  fences, 
ploughed  up  our  corn,  and  beat  our  people:  that  they  had 
brought  whisky  into  our  country,  mo^/e  our  people  drunk, 
and  taken  from  them  their  horses,  guns,  and  traps;  and 
fhat  I  had  borne  all  this  injury,  without  suffering  any 
of  my  braves  to  raise  a  hand  against  the  whites. 

My  object  in  holding  this  council  wag  to  get  the 
opinion  of  these  two  chiefs,  as  to  the  besi  course  for 
me  to  pursue.  I  had  appealed  in  vain,  time  after  time, 
to  our  agent,  who  regularly  represented  our  situation 
to  the  great  chief  at  St*  Louis,  whose  duty  it  was  to 


Pipppiiinl 


I  nerer 
father, 
le  bad, 
nd  con- 
le  other 
sr  than 
t  get  as 

;he  true 
^sent:  I 
to  them 
of  our 
1  others 
Quaeh- 
ig  ever 
'11  them 

r 

f  enter- 
fences, 
ley  had 
5  drunk^ 
f)s;  and 
ing  any 
• 

get  the 
urse  for 
iT  time, 
ituation 
;  was  to 


^;i»; 


LIFE  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


93 


call  upon  our  Great  Father  to  have  justice  done  to  us; 
but  instead  of  this,  we  are  told  that  the  white  people  want 
our  country,  and  we  must  leave  it  to  them.'  ^f 

I  did  not  think  it  possible  that  our  Great  Father 
wished  us  to  leave  our  village,  where  we  had  lived  fo 
long,  and  where  the  bones  of  so  many  of  our  people, 
had  been  laid.  The  great  chief  said  that,  as  he  was 
no  longer  a  chief,  he  could  do  nothing  for  us;  and  felt 
sorry  that  it  was  not  in  his  power  to  aid  us — nor  did  he 
know  how  to  advise  us.  Neither  of  them  could  do  any 
thing  for  us;  but  both  ev  Jen tly  appeared  very  sorry. 
It  would  give  me  groat  pleasure,  at  all  times,  to  take 
these  two  chiefs  by  the;  hand. 

That  fall  I  paid  a  visit  to  the  agent,  before  we  started 
to  our  hunting  grounds,  to  hear  if  he  had  any  good 
news  for  me.  He  had  news!  He  said  that  the  land 
on  which  our  village  stood  was  now  ordered  to  be  sold 
to  individuals;  and  that,  when  sold,  our  right  to  remain, 
by  treaty,  would  be  at  an  end,  and  that  if  we  returned 
next  spring,  we  would  be  forced  to  remove! 

We  learned  during  the  winter,  that  part  of  the  lands 
where  our  village  stood  had  been  sold  to  individuals, 
and  that  the  trader  at  Rock  Island  had  bought  the 
greater  part  that  had  been  sold.  The  reason  was  now 
plain  to  me,  why  he  urged  us  to  remove.  His  object, 
we  thought,  was  to  get  our  lands.  We  held  several 
councils  that  winter  to  determine  what  •¥&  should  do, 
and  resolved,  in  one  of  then^,  to  return  to  our  village 
in  the  spring,  as  usual:  and  ooocUided,  that  If  we  wer« 


m--^ 


^li 


'"'IIWPPWI 


Jffk^ 


r 
# 


•fo  ^ 

LIVB  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


removed  by  force,  that  the  trader,  agent,  and  others, 
must  be  the  c»use|  and  that,  if  found  guilty  of  having 
us*  driven  from  our  village,  they  should  b«)  killed!  The 
trader  stood  foremost  on  this  list.  He  had  purchased 
the  land  on  which  my  lodge  stood,  and  .that  of  our 
graveyard  also!  Ne-a-pope  promised  to  kill  hiin,  the 
agent,  interpreted,  the  great  chief  at  8t.  Louis,  the 
ir^r  chief  at  fort  Armslron^^  Rock  Island,  and  Ke-o- 
kuck — -these  being  the  principal  persons  to  blame  for 
endeavoring  to  remove  us. 

Our  women  received  bad  accounts  from  the  women 
that  had  been  raising  corn  at  the  new  village — the  dif- 
ficulty of  breaking  the  new  prairie  with  hoes — and  the 
small  quantity  of  corn  raised.  We  were  nearly  in  the 
same  situation  in  regard  to  the  latter,  it  being  the  first 
time  I  ever  knew  our  people  to  be  in  want  of  provision. 

I  prevail'^d  upon  some  of  Ke-o-kuck's  band  to  re- 
tdm  this  spring  to  the  Rock  river  village.  Ke^o-kuck 
would  not  return  with  us.  I  hoped  that  we  would  get 
permission  to  go  to  Washington  to  settle  our  affairs 
With  our  Great  Father.  I  visited  the  agent  at  Rock 
Islands  He  was  dis||]eased  because  we  had  returned 
to  our  village,  and  told  me  that  we  must  remove  to  the 
West  of  the  Mississippi.  I  told  him  plainly  that  we 
would  not!  I  visited  the  interpreter  at  his  house,  whd 
advised  me  to  do  as  the  agent  had  directed  me.  I  then 
went  to  see  the  trader,  and  upbraided  him  for  buying 
oiir  lands.  He  said  thai  if  he  had  not  purchased  them, 
aome  person  else  would^  and  that  if  our  Great  Father 


otherS) 
having 
a  The 
rchased 
:  of  our 
lirn,  the 
ais,  the 
id  Ke-o- 
ame  for 

I  women 
-the  diA 
-and  the 

\y  in  the 
the  first 


ovision. 
d  to  re- 
!^o-kuck 
>uld  get 
r  affairs 
it  Rock 
eturned 
e  to  the 
that  we 
se,  who 
I  then 
buying 
d  them, 
Father 


*  LBPS  OP  BIACK  BAVSIK.  **       1||p 

would  make  an  exchange  with  fii,  he  would  wilHogljjF 
give  up  the  land  he  had  purchased  to  the  governmeDt* 
This  I  thought  was  fair,  and  be();an  to  think  that  he 
had  not  acted  as  badly  as  I  had  suspected.  We  again  ' 
repaired'our  lodges,  and  built  others,  as  roost  of  our 
village  had  been  burnt  and  destroyed.  Our  women 
selected  small  patches  to  plant  corn,  (where  the  whites 
had  not  taken  them  within  their  fences,)  and  worked 
hard  to  raise  something  for  our  children  to  subsist  upon, 

I  was  told  that,  according  to  the  treaty,  we  had  no 
right  to  remain  upon  the  fands  sold,  and  that  the  gov- 
ernment would  ybrce  us  to  leave  them.  There  was  but 
a  small  portion,  however,  that  had  been  sold;  the  bal* 
ance,  remaining  in  the  hands  of  the  government,  we 
claimed  the  right  (if  we  had  no  other)  to  '^  live  and 
hunt  upon,  as  long  as  it  remained  the  property  of  the 
government,"  by  a  stipulation  in  the  same  treaty  that 
required  us  to  evacuate  it  ajler  it  had  been  sold.  This 
was  the  land  that  we  wished  to  inhabit,  and  thought 
we  had  the  best  right  to  occupy^ 

I  heard  that  there  wad  a  great  chief  on  the  Wabash, 
and  sent  a  party  to  get  his  advice*  They  informed 
him  th.':t  we  had  not  sold  our  village.  He  assured 
them  then,  that  if  we  had  not  sold  the  land  on  which 
our  village  stood,  our  Great  Father  would  not  take  it 
from  us.  * 

I  started  early  to  Maiden  ^ to  see  the  c^ief  of  my 
British  father,  and  told  him  my  story.  He  gave  the 
lame  reply  that  th3  chief  on  ^e  Wabash  had  given; 


4 


I  .iiuan«ni«i!llHPaBrmiiP 


mimmi'!'''''wimmimii(miifi 


UVB  er  WiAOK  hawk* 


and,  in  jiislice  to  him^  I  must  say,  that  he  never  gave 
me  any  bad  advice:  but  advised  me  to  apply  to  our 
American  Father,  who,  he  said,  would  do  us  justice.  I 
next  called  on  the  great  chief  at  Detroit,  and  made  the 
same  statement  to  him  that  I  had  to  the  chief  of  our 
British  father.  He  gave  the  same  reply.  He  said,  if 
we  had  not  sold  our  lands,  and  would  remain  peaceably 
on  them,  that  we  would  not  be  disturbed.  This  assured 
me  that  I  was  right,  and  determined  me  to  hold  out,  as 
I  had  promised  my  people. 

I  returned  from  Maiden  late  in  the  fall.  My  people 
were  gone  to  their  hunting  ground,  whither  I  followed. 
Here  I  learned  that  they  had  been  badly  treated  all 
summer  by  the  whites;  and  that  a  treaty  had  been  held 
at  Prairie  du  Chien.  Ke-o-kuck  and  some  of  our  peo- 
ple attended  it,  and  found  out  that  our  Great  Father 
had  exchanged  a  small  strip  of  the  land  that  was  cedqd 
by  Quash-qua-me  and  his  party,  with  the  Pottowato- 
mies,  for  a  portion  of  their  land,  near  Chicago;  and 
that  the  object  of  this  treaty  waa  to  get  it  back  again; 
and  that  the  United  States  had  agreed  to  give  them 
sixteen  thousand  dollars  a  year  forever,  for  this  small  strip 
of  land — it  being  less  than  the  twentieth  part  of  that 
taken  from  our  nation,  for  one  thousand  dollars  a  year! 
This  bears  evidence  of  something  I  cannot  explain. 
This  land,  they  say,  belonged  to  the  United  States. 
What  reason,  then,  could  have  induced  them  to  ex- 
change it  with  the  Pottowatomies?  If  it  was  so  valuable, 
why  not  keep  it?    Qr,  if  they  found  that  they  had 


mm 


«k- 


^ 


LIFB  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


made  a  bad  bargain  with  the  Poitowatomies,  why  not 
take  back  their  land  at  a  fair  proportion  of  what  they 
gave  our  nation  for  it?  If  this  small  portion  of  the  land 
that  they  took  from  us  for  one  thousand  dollars  a  yeaf) 
be  worth  sixteen  thousand  dollars  a  year  forever^  to  the 
Pottowatomies,  then  the  whole  tract  of  country  taken 
from  us  ought  to  be  worth,  to  our  nation,  twenty  times  ai 
much  as  this  small  fraction. 

Here  I  was  again  puzzled  to  find  out  how  the  whitt 
people  reasoned;  and  began  to  doubt  whether  they 
had  any  standard  of  right  and  wrong! 

T)ommunication  was  kept  up  between  mysalf  and 
the  Prophet.  Runners  were  sent  to  the  Arkansas,  Red 
river  and  Texas — not  on  the  subject  of  our  lands,  but 
a  secret  mission,  which  I  am  not,  at  present,  permitted 
to  explain.  ^ 

It  was  related  to  me,  that  the  chiefs  and  headmen 
of  the  Foxes  had  been  invited  to  Prairie  du  Chien,  to 
hold  a  council  to  settle  the  diiierences  existing  between 
them  and  the  Sioux.  That  tb6  chiefs  and  headmen, 
amounting  to  nine,  started  for  the  place  designated, 
taking  with  them  one  woman — and  were  met  by  the 
Menomonees  and  Sioux,  near  the  Ouisconsin,  and  all 
killed,  except  one  man.  Haying  understood  that  the 
whole  matter  was  published  shortly  after  it  occurred, 
and  is  known  to  the  white  people,  I  will  say  no  more 
about  it  ■-  ■■  V  ^'-'  -^''"  •* 

I  would  here  remark,  that  our  pastimes  and  sportir 

had  been  laid  aside  for  the  last  two  years.    We  were 

9 


■^"^^(Pl 


"^w^^ 


■""^"■niVMPVHVMW 


^•mmmmmmmmmm 


98 


LIFE  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


a  divided  people,  forming  two  parties.  Ke-o-kucic 
being  at  the  head  of  one,  willing  to  barter  our  rights 
merely  for  the  good  opinion  of  the  whites;  and  cow- 
ardly enough  to  desert  our  village  to  them.  I  was  at 
the  head  of  the  other  party,  and  was  determined  to 
hold  on  to  my  village,  although  I  had  been  ordered  to 
leave  it.  But,  I  considered,  as  myself  and  band  had 
no  agency  in  selling  our  country — and  that  as  provisioTi 
had  been  made  in  the  treaty,  for  us  all  to  remain  on 
it  as  long  as  it  belonged  to  the  United  States,  that  we 
could  not  be  forced  away.  I  refused,  therefore,  to  quit 
my  village.  It  was  here,  that  I  was  born — and  hete 
lie  the  bones  of  my  friends  and  relations.  For  this 
spot  I  felt  a  sacred  reverence,  and  never  could  consent 
to  leave  it,  without  being  forced  therefrom. 

When  I  called  to  mind  the  scenes  of  my  youth,  and 
those  of  later  days — and  reflected  that  the  theatre  on 
which  these  wei*e  acted,  had  been  so  long  the  home  of 
my  fathers,  who  now  slept  on  the  hills  around  it,  I  could 
not  bring  my  mind  to  consent  to  leave  this  country  to 
the  whites,  for  any  earthly  consideration. 

The  winter  passe4  off  in  gloom.  We  made  a  bad 
hunt,  for  want  of  the  guns,  traps,  &c.  that  the  whites 
had  taken  from  our  people  for  whisky!  The  prospect 
before  us  was  a  bad  one.  I  fasted,  and  called  upon 
the  Great  Spirit  to  direct  my  steps  to  the  right  path.  I 
was  in  great  sorrow — because  all  the  whites  with  whom 
I  was  acquainted,  and  had  been  on  terms  of  friendship, 


4. 


*• 


m 


vt,- 


LIFE  OF  BLACK  IIA17K. 


90 


i-o-kuck 
ir  rights 
nd  cow- 
[  was  at 
uined  to 
-dered  to 
ind  had 
fFovisioTi 
main  on 
that  we 
I,  to  quit 
nd  hete 
For  thii 
consent 

nth,  and 
satre  on 
home  of 
,  I  could 
[intry  to 

;  a  bad 
i  whitei 
irospeci 
d  upon 
)nth.  I 
whom 
ndship, 


advised  me  so  contrary  to  my  wishes,  that  I  begun  to 
doubt  whether  I  had  a  friend  among  them. 

Ke-o-kuck,  who  has  a  smooth  tongue,  and  is  a  great 
speaker,  was  busy  in  persuading  my  band  that  I  was 
wrong — and  thereby  making  many  of  them  dissatisfied 
with  me.  I  had  one  consolation,  for  all  the  women 
were  on  my  side,  on  account  of  their  corn-fields. 

On  my  arrival  again  at  my  village,  with  my  band  in- 
creased, I  found  it  worse  than  before.  I  visited  Rock 
Island.  The  agent  again  ordered  me  to  quit  my  vil- 
lage. He  said,  that  if  we  did  not,  troops  would  be 
sent  to  drive  us  off.  He  reasoned  with  me,  and  told 
me,  it  would  be  better  for  us  to  be  with  the  rest  of  our 
people,  so  that  we  might  avoid  difficulty,  and  live  in 
peace.  The  interpreter  joined  him,  and  gave  me  so 
many  good  reasons,  that  I  almost  wished  I  had  not 
undertaken  the  difficult  task  that  I  had  pledged  myself 
to  my  brave  band  to  perform.  In  this  mood,  I  called 
upon  the  trader,  who  is  fond  of  talking,  and  had  long 
been  my  friend,  but  now  amongst  those  advising  me  to 
give  up  my  village.  He  received  me  very  friendly, 
and  went  on  to  defend  Ke-o-kuck  tn  what  he  had  done, 
and  endeavored  to  show  me  tha.t  I  was  bringing  dis- 
tress on  our  women  and  children.  He  inquired,  if 
some  terms  could  not  be  made,  that  would  be  honora- 
ble to  me,  and  satisfactory  to  my  braves,  for  us  to  ire- 
move  to  the  west  side  of  the  Mississippi f  I  replied, 
that  if  our  Great  Father  would  do  us  justice,  and 
would  make  the  propositio|),  I  could  then  give  up  hon- 


*-  ^  *.: 


V>^* 


^" 


II  ■  .>Vlil«M^-mVH 


IQO 


UVB  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


^^  ^t^ 


orably.  He  asked  me  '^  if  the  great  chief  at  St.  Louis 
would  give  us  six  thousand  dollars,  to  purchase  provis- 
ions and  other  articles,  if  I  would  give  up  peaceably, 
and  remove  to  the  west  side  of  the  Mississippi?  Af- 
ter thinking  some  lime,  I  agreed,  that  I  could  honora- 
bly give  up,  by  being  paid  for  it,  according  to  our  cus- 
toms; but  <old  him,  that  I  could  not  make  the  proposal 
myself,  even  if  I  wished,  because  it  would  be  dishon- 
orable in  mo  to  do  so.  He  said  he  would  do  it,  by 
sending  word  to  the  great  chief  at  St.  Louis,  that  he 
could  remove  us  peaceably,  for  the  amount  stated,  to 
the  west  side  of  the  Mississippi.  A  steam  boat  arrived 
at  the  island  during  my  stay.  After  its  departure,  the 
trader  told  me  that  he  had  "  requested  a  war  chief,  who 
is  stationed  at  Galena,  and  was  on  board  of  the  steam 
bpat,to  make  the  offer  to  the  great  chief  at  St.  Louis 
and  thjit  he  would  soon  be  back,  and  bring  his  answer.'^ 
I  did  not  lot  my  people  know  what  had  taken  place, 
for  fear  they  would  be  displea«ied.  I  did  not  much 
like  what  had  been  done  myself,  and  tried  to  banish  it 
from  my  mind. 

After  a  few  days  had  passed,  the  war  chief  returned, 
and  brought  for  answer,  that  "  the  great  chief  at  St. 
Louis  would  give  us  nothing! — and  said  if  we  did  not 
remove  immediately,  we  should  be  drone  offP^ 

I  was  not  much  displeased  with  the  ansiirer  brought 
by  the  war  chief,  because  I  would  rather  have  laid  my 
bones  with  my  forefathers,  than  remove  for  any  consid- 
eration.   Yet  if  a  friendly^offer  had  been  made,  at  I 


'Sji  ti 


ip ,,    f 


fu'wiv"  «i"ii»^i;uinRpr<*wiiip««^!ni|if«ppv7< 


HA- 


•  Louis 

provis- 

iceably, 

i?    Af- 

lonora- 

>ur  cus- 

roposal 

dishon- 

0  if,  by 

that  he 

ited,  to 

arrived 

lire,  the 

ef,  who 

e  steam 

>  Louis 

nswer." 

)  place, 

t  much 

anish  it 

turned, 
•  at  St. 
did  not 

wrought 
aid  my 
consid- 
ie,  as  I 


LIFE  OF  BLAUK  HAWK. 


101 


expected,  I  would  for  the  sake  of  my  women  and  chil- 
dren, have  removed  peaceabljr. 

I  now  resolved  to  remain  in  my  village,  and  make  no 
resistance,  if  the  military  came,  but  submit  to  my  fate! 
I  impressed  the  importance  of  this  course  on  all  my 
band,  and  directed  them,  in  case  the  military  came, 
not  to  raise  an  arm  against  them. 

About  this  time,  our  agent  was  put  out  of  office — for 
what  reason,  I  never  could  ascertain.  I  then  thought, 
if  it  was  for  wanting  to  make  us  leave  our  village,  it 
was  right — because  I  was  tired  hearing  him  talk 
about  it.  The  interpreter,  who  had  been  equally  as 
bad  in  trying  to  persuade  us  to  leave  our  village,  was 
retained  in  office — and  the  young  man  who  took  the 
place  of  our  agent,  told  the  same  old  story  over,  ajbout 
removing  us.  I  was  then  satisfied,*that  this  could  not 
have  been  the  cause. 

Our  women  had  planted  a  few  patches  of  corn 
which  was  growing  finety,  and  promised  a  subsistence 
for  our  children — but  the  white  people  again  comrrm- 
sed  ploughing  it  up!  I  now  determined  to  put  a  stop 
to  it,  by  clearing  our  country  of  the  intruders,  I 
went  to  the  principal  men  and  told  them,  that  they 
must  and  should  leave  our  country — and  gave  them 
until  the  middle  of  the  next  day,  to  remove  in.  ^he 
worst  left  within  the  time  appointed — but  the  one  who 
remained,  represented,  that  his  family,  (which  was 
large,}  would  be  in  a  starving  condition,  if  he  went 
and  kA  bis  crop — and  promised  to  behavo  well,  if  I 

*9 


103 


UWU  Of  BL/iOK  HAWK* 


4 

♦ 


■A. 


would  consent  to  let  him  remain  until  fall,  in  order  to 
secure  hifl  crop.  He  spoke  reasonably,  and  I  con- 
sented. 

We  now  resumed  some  of  our  games  and  pastimes — 
having  been  ft8i>ured  by  the  prophet  that  we  would  not 
i)e  removed.  But  in  a  little  while  it  was  ascertained 
that  a  great  war  chief,  [Gen.  Gaines  J  with  a  large  num. 
i)cr  of  soldiers,  was  on  his  way  to  Rock  river.  I  again 
called  upon  the  prophet,  who  requested  a  little  time 
to  see  into  the  matter.  Early  next  morning  he  came 
to  me,  and  said  he  had  been  dreaming!  **  That  he 
saw  nothing  bad  in  this  great  war  chief,  [Gen.  Gaines,] 
who  was  now  near  Rock  river.  That  ihe  object  of  his 
mission  was  to  frijhten  us  from  our  village,  thai  the 
white  people  might  get  our  land  for  nothing P^  He 
assured  us  that  this  ^'  great  war  chief  dare  not,  and 
would  not,  hurt  any  of  us.  That  the  Americans  were 
at  peace  with  the  British,  and  when  they  made  peace, 
the  British  required,  (which  the  Americans  agreed  to,) 
liiat  they  should  never  interrupt  any  nation  of  Indians 
that  was  at  peace — and  that  all  we  had  to  do  to  retain 
Gur  village,  wat*  to  refuse  any,  and  every  offer  that  might 
be  made  by  this  war  chief." 

The  war  chief  arrived,  and  convenjed  aipouncil  at 
the  agency.  Kc-o-kuck  and  Wa-pel-lo  were  sent  for, 
and  came  with  a  number  of  their  band.  The  council^ 
house  was  opened,  and  they  were  all  admittec  Myself 
and  band  were  then  sent  for  to  a.tend  the  council. 
When  we  arrived  at  the  door,  singing  a  war  soh^,  and 


* ;  M 
w' 


¥- 


,.'<•*  ^ 


.V 


4e 


LIFE  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


103 


Armed  with  lances,  spears,  war  clubs,  and  bows,  and 
arrows,  as  if  going  to  battle,  I  halted,  and  refused  to 
enter — as  I  could  see  no  necessity  or  propriety  in  hav- 
ing the  room  crowded  with  those  who  were  already 
there.  If  the  council  was  convened  for  U9,  why  have 
others  there  in  our  room?  The  war  chi^f  having  tent 
all  out  except  Ke-o-kuck,  Wa-pel-lo,  and  a  few  of 
their  chiefs  and  braves,  we  entered  the  council-house, 
in  (his  warliice  appearance,  being  desirous  to  show  the 
war  chief  that  we  were  not  afraid!  He  then  rose  and 
made  a  speech.  * 

He  said:  " 

''  The  president  is  very  sorry  to  be  put  to  the  trouble 
and  expense  of  sending  a  large  body  of  soldiers  here, 
to  remove  you  from  the  lands  you  have  long  since 
ceded  to  the  United  States.  Your  Great  Father  has 
already  warned  you  repeatedly,  through  your  agent, 
to  lea  e  the  country;  pnd  he  is  very  sorry  to  find  that 
you  have  disobeyed  his  orders.  Your  Great  Father 
wishes  you  well;  a  asks  nothing  from  you  but  what 
is  reasonable  and  right.  I  hope  you  will  consult  your 
own  interest,  and  leave  the  country  you  are  occupying, 
and  go  to  the  other  side  of  the  Mississippi." 

I  replied:  **That  we  had  never  sold  our  country. 
We  never  received  any  annuities  from  our  American 
Father!  And  we  are  determined  to  hold  on  to  our 
village !" 

The  war  chief,  apparently  angry,  rose  and  said: — 
^'Whois  Black  Hawk?    Who  U  Biack  Hawk r 


':J'A 


^       -  ■'     ■     ■ 


104 


UVE  OP  BLACK  HAWK. 


I  responded: 

^'  I  am  a  Sac!  my  forefather  was  a  Sac!  and  9II  the 
nations  call  me  a  SAC!!" 

The  war  chief  said: 

•*  I  came  here,  neither  to  beg  nor  hire  you  to  leaye 
yoor  village.  My  business  is  to  remove  you,  peacea- 
bly if  I  can,  hut  forcibly  if  I  must !  I  will  now  give  you 
two  days  to  remove  in — and  if  you  do  not  cross  the 
Mississippi  within  that,  time,  I  will  adopt  measures  to 
^rcc  you  away !"  '^      »  4;   * 

I  told  him  that  I  never  could  cdisent  to  leave  my 
Tillage,  and  was  determined  not  to  leave  it! 

The  council  broke  up,  and  the  war  chief  retired  to 
the  fort.  I  consulted  the  prophet  again :  He  said  he 
had  been  dreaming,  and  that  the  Great  Spirit  had  di- 
rected that  a  woman,  the  daughter  of  Mat-ta-tas,  the 
old  chief  of  the  village,  should  take  a  stick  in  her  hand, 
and  go  before  the  war  chief,  and  tell  him  that  she  is 
the  daughter  of  Mat-ta-tas,  and  that  he  had  always 
been  the  white  man's  friend!  That  he  had  fought  their 
battles — been  wounded  in  their  service — and  had  al- 
ways spoke  well  of  them — and  she  had  never  heard 
him  say  that  he  had  sold  their  village.  The  whites 
are  numerous,  and  can  take  it  from  us  if  they  choose; 
but  she  hoped  they  would  not  be  so  unfriendly.  If 
they  were,  she  had  one  favor  to  ask:  she  wished  her 
people  to  be  allowed  to  remain  long  enough  to  gather 
the  provisions  now  growing  in  their  fields:  that  she 
was  a  woman,  and  had  worked  hard  to  rais«  somathiog 


mmmmmimm 


PIP" 


PPUP 


^PPi||^^^ 


it 


LinS  OV  BLACK  HAWK. 


105 


to  support  her  children!  And,  if  we  are  driven  from 
our  village  without  being  allowed  to  save  our  corn, 
many  of  our  little  children  must  perish  with  hunger!" 

Accordingly,  Mat-ta-tas'  daughter  was  sent  to  tho 
fort,  accompanied  by  several  of  our  young  men.  They 
were  admitted.  She  went  before  the  war  chief,  and 
told  the  story  of  the  prophet!  The  war  chief  said  that 
the  president  did  not  send  him  here  to  make  treaties 
with  the  women,  nor  to  hold  council  With  them!  T^at 
our  young  men  must  leave  the  fort,  but  she  might  re' 
main  if  she  wished! 

All  our  plans  were  now  defeated.  We  must  cross 
the  river,  or  return  to  our  village  and  await  the  com- 
ing of  the  war  chief  with  his  spldiers.  We  determined 
on  the  latter:  but  finding  that  our  agent,  interpreter^ 
trader,and  Ke-o-kuck,(who  v^ere  determined  on  break- 
ing my  ranks,)  had  seduced  several  of  my  warriors  to 
cross  the  Mississippi,  I  sent  a  deputation  to  the  agents 
at  the  request  of  my  band,  pledging  myself  to  leave 
the  country  in  the  fall,  provided  pcrmissioi>  was  given 
us  to  remain,  and  secure  our  crop  of  corn,  then  grow- 
ing— as  we  would  be  in  a  starving  situation  if  we  were 
driven  off  without  the  means  of  subsistence. 

The  deputation  returned  with  an  answer  from  the 
war  chief,  "that  no  further  time  would  be  given  us  than 
that  specified,  and  if  we  were  not  then  gone,  he  would 
remove  us!" 

r  directed  my  village  crier  to  proclaim,  that  my  or* 


.;^- 


r 


.■   % 


106 


LIFE  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


ders  were,  in  the  event  of  the  war  chief  coming  to  our 
Tillage  to  remove  us,  that  not  a  gun  should  be  fired, 
nor  any  resistance  offered.  That  if  he  determined  to 
fight,  for  them  to  remain  quietly  in  their  lodges,  and 
let  him  kill  them  if  he  chose  ! 

I  felt  conscious  that  this  great  war  chief  would  not 
hlli^t  our  people — and  my  object  was  not  war!  Had 
it  been,  we  would  have  attacked,  and  killed  the  war 
chief  and  his  braves,  when  in  council  with  us — as  they 
were  then  completely  iu  our  power.  But  his  manly 
conduct  and  soldierly  deportment,  his  mild,  yet  ener- 
getic manner,  which  proved  his  bravery,  forbade  it. 

Some  of  our  young  men  who  had  been  out  asspie^, 
eame  in  and  reported,  that  they  had  discovered  a  large 
body  of  mounted  men  coming  towards  our  village,  who 
looked  like  a  war  party*  They  arrived,  and  took  a 
position  below  Rock  river,  for  their  place  of  encamp- 
ment. The  great  war  chief,  (Gen.  Gaines,)  entered 
Rock  river  in  a  steam  boat,  with  his  soldiers  and  one 
big  gun!  They  passed,  and  returned  close  by  our 
village;  but  excited  no  alarm  among  my  braves.  No 
attention  was  paid  to  the  boat  by  any  of  our  people — 
even  our  little  children,  who  were  playing  on  the  bank 
of  the  river,  as  usual,  continued  their  amusement.  The 
water  being  shallow,  the  boat  got  aground,  which  gave 
the  whites  some  trouble.  If  they  had  asked  for  assis- 
tance, there  was  not  a  brave  in  my  band,  who  would 
Qot,  willingly,  have  aided  them.    Their  people  were 


.*.*'' 


UFB  or  BLACK  RAWK. 


■m 


107 


permitted  to  pass  and  repass  through  our  village,  and 
were  treated  with  friendship  by  our  people. 

The  war  chief  appointed  the  next  day  to  remove  us! 
I  would  have  remained  and  been  taken  prisoner  bj  the 
regularsy  but  was  afraid  of  the  multitude  of  pale  faces, 
who  were  on  horseback, as  they  were  under  no  restraint 
of  their  chiefs. 

We  crossed  the  Mississippi  during  the  night,  and 
encamped  some  distance  below  Rock  Island.  The 
great  war  chief  convened  another  council,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  making  a  treaty  with  us.  In  this  treaty,  he 
agreed  to  give  us  corn  in  place  of  that  we  had  left 
growing  in  our  fields.  I  touched  the  goose  quill  to  this 
treaty,  and  was  determined  to  live  in  peace. 

The  corn  that  had  been  given  us,  was  soon  found  to 
be  inadequate  to  our  wants;  when  loud  lamentations 
were  heard  in  the  camp,  by  our  women  and  children, 
for  their  roasting-ears,  beans,  and  squashes.  To  satisfy 
them,  a  small  party  of  braves  went  over,  in  the  night, 
to  steal  corn  from  their  own  fields.  They  were  discov- 
ered by  the  whites,  and  fired  upon.  Complaints  were 
again  made  of  the  depredations  committed  by  some  of 
my  people,  on  their  own  cornrfields! 

I  understood  from  our  agent,  that  there  had  been  a 
provision  made  in  one  of  our  treaties  for  assistance  in 
agriculture, and  that  we  could  have  our  fields  ploughed, 
if  we  required  it^  I  therefore  called  upon  him,  and 
requested  him  to  have  me  a  ^mall  log  house  built,  and 
a  field  ploughed  that  fall,  as  I  wished  to  live  retired. 


* 


« «»" 


4 


■•^■; 


nH  • 


«, 


#lw 


108 


LIFE  OF  BLACK  HAWK* 


He  promised  to  have  it  done.  I  then  went  to  the  tra- 
der, and  asked  for  permission  to  be  buried  in  the  grave- 
yard at  our  village,among  my  old  friends  and  warriors; 
which  he  gave  cheerfully.  I  then  returned  to  my 
people  satisfied. 

A  short  time  after  this,  a  party  of  Foxes  went  up  to 
Prairie  du  Chien  to  avenge  the  murder  of  their  chiefs 
and  relations,  which  had  been  committed  the  summer 
previous,  by  the  Menomonees  and  Sioux.  When  they 
arrived  in  the  vicinity  of  the  encampment  of  the 
Menomonees,  they  met  with  a  Winnebago,  and  in- 
quired for  tiie  Menomonee  camp;  and  requested  him 
to  go  on  before  them  and  see  if  there  were  any  Win- 
nebagoes  in  it — and  if  so,  to  tell  them  that  they  had 
better  return  to  their  own  camp.  He  went,  and  gave 
the  information,  not  only  to  the  Winnebagoes,  but  to 
the  Menomonees,  that  they  might  be  prepared.  The 
party  si.'^i  followed,  killed  twenty-eight  Menomonees, 
and  made  their  escape. 

This  retaliation  (which  with  us  is  considered  lawful 
and  right)  created  considerable  excitement  among  the 
whites!  A  demand  was  made  for  the  Foxes  to  be  sur- 
rendered to,  and  tried  by,  the  white  people!  The 
principal  men  came  to  me  during  the  fall,  and  asked 
my  advice.  I  conceived  that  they  had  done  right,and 
that  our  Great  Father  acted  very  unjustly^  in  demand- 
ing them^  when  he  had  suffered  all  their  chiefs  to  be 
decoyed  away,  and  murdered  by  the  Menomonees, 
without  having  ever  made  a  similai  demand  of  ih«m. 


% 


•  If 


■)■' 


UPH  or  BLACK  ItKWK. 


too 


If  be  had  no  right  in  the  first  instance,  he  had  non« 
now;  and  for  my  part,  I  conceive  the  right  very  qtki^' 
HtmaMe,  if  not  altogether  usurpation,  in  any  case,  where 
a  difference  exists  between  two  nations,  for  him  to  in- 
terfere !  The  Foxes  joined  my  band,  with  an  inten- 
tion to  go  out  with  them  to;  hunt^ 

About  this  tinie,  Ne-a-pope,  (who  started  to  Maided 
when  it  was  ascertained  that  the  great  war  chief,  Gen^ 
Gaines,  was  coming  to  remove  us,)  returned.  He  said 
be  had  seen  the  chief  of  our  British  father,  and  asked 
him  if  the  Americans  could  force  us  to  leave  our  vil- 
lage? He  said — ^^  If  we  had  not  sold  our  village  and 
land,  the  American  government  could  not  tiake  them 
from  us.  That  the  right,  being  vested  in  us,  could 
only  be  transferred  by  the  voice  and  will  of  the  whole 
ttjition;  and  that,  as  we  had  never  given  our  consent  to 
the  sale  of  our  country,  it  remained  our  exclusive  prop- 
erty— from  which  the  American  government  never 
could  force  us  away!  and  that,  in  the  event  of  war,  we 
should  have  iiothmg  to  fear!  as  they  would  stand  by 
anda5m/us!" 

He  said  he  had  called  at  the  prophet^s  village 
on  his  way  down,  and  had  there  learned,  for  the  first 
time,  that  we  had  left  our  village.  He  informed  me, 
privately,  that  the  prophet  was  anxious  to  see  me,  at 
he  had  much  good  news  to  tell  me,  and  that  I  Would 
hear  good  news  in  the  spring  from  our  British  father. 
The  prophet  requested  me  to  inform  you  of  all  the 
particulars.    I  would  much  rather,  however,  you  should 

10 


no 


LIFB  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


see  him,  and  learn  all  from  himself.  But  I  will  tell  jou, 
that  he  has  received  expresses  from  our  British  father, 
who  says  that  he  is  going  to  send  us  guns,  ammunition, 
provisions,  and  clothing,  earlj  in  the  spring.  The 
vessels  that  bring  them  will  come  bj  way  of  Mil' 
wii-ke.  The  prophet  has  likewise  received  wampum 
and  tobacco  from  the  different  nations  on  the  lakes — 
Ottowas,  Chippewas,  Pottowatomi^s;  and  as  for  the 
Winnebagoes,  he  has  them  all  at  his  command.  We 
are  going  to  be  happy  once  more! 

I  told  him  that  I  was  pleased  to  hear  that  our  Brii.dh 
father  intended  to  see  us  righted.  That  we  had  been 
driven  from  our  lands  without  receiving  any  thing  for 
them — and  I  now  began  to  hope,  from  his  talk,  that  mj 
people  would  be  once  more  happy.  If  I  could  accom- 
plish this,  I  would  be  satisfied.  I  am  now  growing  old, 
and  could  spend  the  remnant  of  my  time  anywhere.  But 
I  wish  first  to  see  my  people  happy.  I  can  then  leave 
them  cheerfully.  This  has  always  been  my  constant 
aim;  and  I  now  begin  to  hope  that  our  sky  will  soon 
be  clear. 

Ne-a-pope  said:  ''  The  prophet  told  me  that  all  the 
diffeicnt  tribes  before  mentioned  would  Jight  for  us,  if 
necessary,  and  the  British  would  support  us.  And,  if 
we  should  be  nhippedy(which  is  hardly  possible,)  we  will 
still  be  safe,  the  prophet  having  received  a  friendly  talk 
from  the  chief  of  Was-sa-cum-mi-co,  (at  Selkirk's  set- 
tlement,) telling  him,  that  if  we  were  not  satisfied  in 
our  country,  to  let  him  know,  and  he  would  make  us 


^  y 


M 


■m- 


#-*1 


Iim  OF  BLACX  HAWK. 


Ill 


happj.  That  he  had  received  information  from  our 
British  father,  that  we  had  been  badly  treated  by  the 
Americans.  We  must  go  and  see  the  prophet.  I  will 
go  first;  you  had  better  remain  and  get  as  many  of  our 
people  to  join  us  as  you  can.  You  now  know  every 
thing  that  we  have  done.  We  leave  the  matter  with 
you,  to  arrange  among  your  people  as  you  please.  I 
will  return  to  the  prophet's  village  to-morrow;  you  can, 
in  the  mean  time,  make  up  your  mind  as  to  the  course 
you  will  take,  and  send  word  to  the  prophet  by  me,  as 
he  is  anxious  to  assist  us,  and  wishes  to  know  whether 
you  will  join  us,  and  assist  to  make  your  people  happy !" 

During  that  night,  I  thought  over  every  thing  that 
Ne-a-pope  had  told  me,  and  was  pleased  to  think  that, 
by  a  little  exertion  on  my  part,  I  could  accomplish  the 
object  of  all  my  wishes.  I  determined  to  follow  the 
advice  of  the  prophet,  and  sent  word  by  Ne-a-pope, 
that  I  would  get  all  my  braves  together,  and  explain 
every  thing  that  I  had  heard  to  them;  and  recruit  as 
many  as  I  could  from  the  different  villages. 

Accordingly,  I  sent  word  to  Ke-o-kuck's  band  and 
the  Fox  tiibe,  and  explained  to  them  all  the  good  news 
I  had  heard.  They  would  not  hear.  Ke-o-kuck  said 
that  I  had  been  imposed  upon  by  liars,  and  had  much 
better  remain  where  I  was  and  keep  quiet.  When  he 
found  that  I  was  determined  to  make  an  attempt  to 
secure  my  village,  and  fearing  that  some  difficulty 
would  arise,  he  made  application  to  the  agent  and 
great  chief  at  St.  Louis,  for  permission  for  the  chiefs  of 


m. 


-■■■Jmb' 


<w 


112 


UFB  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


.-vv 


our  nation  to  go  to  Washington  to  see  our  Great  Fa- 
Hker,  that  we  might  have  our  difficulties  settled  ami- 
cably. Ke-o-kjttck  also  requested  the  trader,  who  was 
going  on  to  Washington,  to  call  on  our  Great  Father 
and  explain  every  thing  to  him,  and  ask  for  permission 
for  us  to  come  on  and  see  him. 

Having  heard  nothing  favorable  from  the  great  chief 
at  St.  Louis,  I  concluded  that  I  had  better  keep  mj 
band  together,  and  recruit  as  many  more  as  possible, 
so  that  J  would  be  prepared  to  make  the  attempt  to 
rescue  my  village  in  the  spring,  provided  our  Great 
Father  did  not  send  word  for  us  to  go  to  Washington. 

The  trader  returned.  He  said  he  had  called  on  our 
Great  Father  and  made  a  full  statement  to  him  in  re- 
lation to  our  difficulties,  and  had  asked  leave  for  us  to 
go  to  Washington,  but  had  received  no  answer. 

I  had  determined  to  listen  to  the  advice  of  my  friends 
-—and  If  permitted  to  go  to  see  our  Great  Father,  to 
abide  by  his  counsel,  whatever  it  might  be.  Every 
overture  was  made  by  Ke^o-kuck  to  prevent  difficulty, 
and  I  anxiously  hoped  that  something  would  be  done 
for  my  people,  that  it  might  be  avoided.  But  there 
was  bad  management  somewhere,  or  thedifficulty  that  has 
taken  place  would  have  been  avoided* 

When  it  was  ascertained  that  we  would  not  be  per- 
mitted to  go  to  Washington,  I  resolved  upon  my  course, 
tmd  again  tried  to  recruit  some  braves  from  Ke-o-kuck's 
band  to  accompany  me,  but  could  not. 

Conceiving  that  the  peaceable  disposition  of  KeH>- 


« > 


# 


UWm  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


113 


kuck  and  his  people  hnd  been,  in  a  great  measure,  the 
cause  of  our  having  been  driren  from  our  Tillage,  I  as- 
cribed their  present  feelings  to  the  same  cause;  and  im- 
mediately went  to  work  to  recruit  all  my  own  bafjid,  and 
made  preparations  to  ascend  Rock  river.  I  made  my 
encampment  on  the  Mississippi,  where  fort  Madison 
h  d  stood ;  requested  my  people  to  rendezvous  at  that 
place,  and  .sent  out  soldiers  to  bring  in  the  warriors, 
and  stationed  my  sentinels  in  a  position  to  prevent  any 
from  moving  up  until  all  were  ready. 

My  party  having  all  come  in  and  got  ready,  we  com- 
menced our  march  up  the  Mississippi — our  women  and 
children  in  canoes,  carrying  such  provisions  as  we  had, 
camp  equipage,  &c.  and  my  braves  and  warriora  on 
horseback,  armed  and  equipped  for  defence.  The 
prophet  came  down  and  joined  us  below  Rock  river, 
having  called  at  Rock  Island,  on  his  way  down;  to  con- 
sult the  war  chief,  agent,  and  trader,  who  (he  said) 
ased  many  arguments  to  dissuade  him  from  going  with 
us;  and  requested  him  to  come  and  meet  us,  and  turn 
us  back.  They  told  him  also,  that  there  was  a  war 
chief  on  his  way  to  Rock  Island  with  a  large  body  of 
loldiers. 

The  prophet  said  he  would  not  listen  (o  this  to/Ar,  be- 
cause no  war  chief  dare  molest  us  as  long  as  we  are  at 
peace.  That  we  had  a  right  to  go  where  we  pleased 
peaceably;  and  advised  me  to  say  nothing  to  my  braves 
and  warriors  until  we  encamped  that  night.  We 
moved  onward  until  we  arrived  at  the  place  where 

*10 


* 


Hi 


urm  or  blaok  hawk. 


Gen*  Gaines  had  made  hif  encampment  the  jear  be- 
Ibre,  and  encamped  for  the  night  The  prophet  then 
addrened  my  braves  and  warriors.  He  told  them  to 
^iollow  us,  and  act  iilce  braves,  and  we  had  nothing  to 
fioTf  biilt  much  to  gain.  That  the  American  war  chief 
might  come,  but  would  not,  nor  dare  not,  interfere  with 
vs  so  long  as  we  acted  peaceablj!  That  w?  were  not 
jfei  rtad^  to  act  otherwise.  We  must  wait  until  we  as- 
cend Rock  river  and  receive  our  reinforcements,  and 
we  will  then  be  able  to  withstand  any  army  I" 

That  night  the  White  Beaver,  [Gen.  Atkinson,]  with 
a  party  of  soldiers,  passed  up  in  steam  boats.  Our  party 
became  alarmed,  expecting  to  meet  the  soldiers  at 
Rock  river,  to  prevent  us  from  going  up.  On  our  ar- 
rival at  its  mouth,  we  discovered  that  the  steam  boats 
had  passed  on.  I  was  fearful  that  the  war  chief  had 
stationed  his  men  on  some  bluff,  or  in  some,  ravine,  that 
we  might  be  taken  by  surprise.  Consequently,  on  en- 
tering Rock  river,  we  commenced  beating  our  drums 
and  singing,  to  show  the  Americans  that  we  were  not 
afraid. 

Having  met  with  no  opposition,  we  moved  up  Rock 
river  leisurely  some  distance,  when  we  were  overtaken 
by  an  express  from  the  White  Beaver,  with  an  order 
for  me  to  return  with  my  band,  and  recross  the  Mis- 
sissippi again.  I  sent  him  word  that  *^  I  would  not, 
(not  recognizing  his  right  to  make  such  a  demand,)  as 
I  was  acting  peaceably,  and  intended  to  go  to  the  pro- 
phet's village,  at  his  request,  to  make  corn." 


Urm  OV  BLACK  VAWK* 


115 


year  be- 
phet  then 
d  them  to 
M>thiDg  to 
war  chief 
fere  with 
were  not 
itil  we  as- 
lentsy  and 

iOD,]  with 
Dur  party 
oldiers  at 
m  our  ar- 
3am  boats 
chief  had 
vine,  that 
l7,on  en- 
>ur  drunos 
were  not 

up  Rock 
vertaken 

n  ORDER 

the  Mis- 
>uld  not, 
laud,)  as 
the  pro- 


The  expreiB  retamed.  We  moved  on,  and  encamped 
some  distance  below  the  prophet's  Tillage.  Here  ano- 
ther express  came  from  the  White  BeaTcr,  threatening 
to  pursue  us  and  drive  us  back,  if  we  did  not  return 
peaceably!  This  message  roused  the  spirit  of  my  band, 
and  all  were  determined  to  remain  with  me  and  con- 
test the  ground  with  the  war  chief,  should  he  come  and 
attempt  to  drive  us.  We  therefore  directed  the  ex- 
press to  say  to  the  war  chief,  ^  if  he  wished  io  fight  us, 
he  might  come  on  P'  We  were  determined  never  to 
be  driven,  and  equally  so,  tio<  to  make  the  first  attack, 
our  object  being  to  act  only  on  the  defensive.  This 
we  conceived  our  right. 

Soon  after  the  express  returned,  Mr.  Gratiot,  sub- 
agent  for  the  Winnebagoes,  with  several  of  the  chiefs 
and  headmen  of  the  Winnelngo  nation,  came  to  our 
encampment.  He  had  no  interpreter — and  was  com- 
pelled to  talk  through  his  chiefs.  They  said  the  ob- 
ject of  his  mission  was,  to  persuade  us  to  return.  But 
they  advised  us  to  go  on — assuring  us,  that  the  further 
we  went  up  Rock  river,  the  more  friends  we  would 
meet,  and  our  situation  be  bettered:  that  they  were 
on  our  side,  and  all  their  people  were  our  friends:  that 
we  must  not  give  up— but  continue  to  ascend  Rock 
river,  on  which,  in  a  short  time,  we  would  receive  a 
reinforcement  sufficiently  strong  to  repulse  any  enemy  I 
They  said  they  would  go  down  with  their  agent,  to  as- 
certain the  strength  of  the  enemy,  and  then  return 


■'ft'.. 


110 


Lira  OF  BLACK  MAWK. 


and  give  lit  the  news:  that  they  had  to  uie  lonie  strat* 
agem  to  deceive  their  agent,  in  order  to  helpvi»\ 

During  this  council,  a  number  of  my  braves  hoisted 
the  British  flag,  mounted  their  horses,  aiid  surrounded 
the  council  lodge!  I  discovered  that  the  agent  was 
very  much  frightened !  I  told  one  of  his  chiefs  to  tell 
him  that  he  need  not  be  alarmed — and  then  went  out 
and  directed  my  braves  to  desist.  Every  warrior  im- 
mediately dismounted,  and  returned  to  his  lodge.  Af- 
ter the  council  adjourned,  I  placed  a  sentinel  at  the 
agent's  lodge,  to  guard  him — fen  ^ing  that  some  of  my 
warriors  might  again  frighten  him!  I  had  always 
thought  that  he  was  a  good  man,  and  was  determined 
that  he  should  not  be  hurt.  He  started,  with  his  chiefs, 
for  Rock  Island. 

Having  ascertained  that  the  White  Beaver  would 
not  permit  us  to  remain  here,  I  began  to  consider 
what  was  best  to  be  done,  and  concluded  to  keep  up 
the  river  and  see  the  Pottowatomies,  and  have  a  talk 
with  them.  Several  Winnebago  chiefs  were  present, 
whom  I  advised  of  my  intentions,  as  thet/  did  not  seem 
disposed  to  render  us  any  assistance.  I  asked  them 
if  they  had  not  sent  us  wampum  during  the  winter,  and 
requested  us  to  come  and  join  their  people  and  enjoy 
all  the  rights  and  privileges  of  their  country?  They 
did  not  deny  this;  and  said  if  the  white  people  did  not 
interfere,  they  had  no  objection  to  our  making  corn 
this  year,  with  our  friend  the  prophet;  but  did  not 
wish  us  to  go  any  further  up. 


"^y 


<  ■ 


Ura  or  BLACK  H4WK. 


in 


The  next  day,  I  utarted  witk  my  party  to  Kitli-wii- 
eo-kee.  That  night  I  encamped  n  ibort  distance  above 
the  propbef  8  viillage.  After  all  wai  quiet  in  mycamf^ 
I  sent  for  my  chicfi,  and  told  them  that  we  had  been 
deceived!  That  all  thei  fair  promises  that  had  been 
held  out  to  u8,  through  Ne-a-pope,  were  fahe!  But 
it  would  not  do  to  let  our  party  know  it.  We  mutt 
keep  it  secret  among  ourselves— and  move  on  to  Kish- 
wft-co-kee,  as  if  all  was  right,  and  say  something  on 
the  way  to  encourage  our  people.  I  will  then  call  on 
the  Pottowatomies,  and  hear  what  they  say,  and  see 
what  they  will  do. 

We  started  the  next  morning,  after  telling  our  peo- 
ple that  news  had  just  come  from  Mil-w&-kee,  that  a 
chief  of  our  British  father  would  be  there  io  a  few 
days! 

Finding  that  all  our  plans  were  defeated,  I  told  the 
prophet  that  he  must  go  with  me,  and  we  would  see 
what  could  be  done  with  the  Pottowatomies.  On  our 
arrival  at  Kish-wli-co-kee,  an  express  was  sent  to  the 
Pottowatomie  villages.  The  next  day  a  deputation 
arrived.  I  inquired  if  they  had  com  in  their  villages? 
They  said  they  had  very  little,  and  could  not  spare  any ! 
I  asked  them  different  questions,  and  received  unsat- 
isfactory answers.  This  talk  was  in  the  presence  of 
all  my  people.  I  afterwards  spoke  to  them  privately, 
and  requested  them  to  come  to  my  lodge  after  my 
people  had  got  to  sleep.  They  came,  and  took  seats. 
I  asked  them  if  they  had  received  any  news  from  the 


118 


UFB  OF  BLACK  HAWK* 


lake  from  the  British?  Thej  said,  no.  I  inquired  if 
they  had  heard  that  a  chief  of  our  British  father  was 
coming  to  Mil-wk-kee,  to  hring  us  guns,  alnmunition, 
goods  and  provisions?  They  said,  no!  I  then  told 
them  what  news  had  been  brought  to  me,  and  request- 
ed them  to  return  to  their  village,  and  tell  the  chiefs 
that  I  wished  to  see  them  and  have  a  talk  with  them. 
After  this  deputation  started,  I  concluded  to  tell  my 
people,  that  if  the  White  Beaver  came  after  us,  we 
would  go  back — as  it  was  useless  to  think  of  stopping 
or  going  on,  without  provisions.  I  discovered  that  the 
Winnebagoes  and  Pottowatomies  were  not  disposed  to 
render  us  any  assistance.  The  next  day,  the  Potto- 
watomie  chiefs  arrived  at  my  camp.  I  had  a  dog  kill- 
ed, and  made  a  feast.  When  it  was  ready,  I  spread 
my  medicine  bags,  and  the  chiefs  began  to  eat.  When 
the  ceremony  was  about  ending,  I  received  news,  that 
three  or  four  hundred  white  men,  on  horseback,  had 
been  seen  about  eight  miles  off*.  I  immediately  started 
three  young  men,  with  a  white  flag,  to  meet  them,  and 
conduct  them  to  our  camp,  that  we  might  hold  a  coun- 
cil with  them,  and  descend  Rock  river  again.  And 
directed  them,  in  case  the  whites  had  encamped^  to  re- 
turn, and  I  would  go  and  see  them.  After  this  party 
had  started,  I  sent  five  young  men  to  see  what  might 
take  place.  The  first  party  went  to  the  encampment 
of  the  whites,  and  were  taken  prisoners.  The  last 
party  had  not  proceeded  far,  before  they  saw  about 
twenty  men  coming  to. yards  them  in  full  gallop?  They 


*. 


^  Ura  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 

stopped,  and  finding  that  the  whites  were  con^g  m> 
fast,  in  a  warlike  attitude,  they  turned  and  retre^ed, 
but  were  pursued,  and  two  of  them  overtaken  a) 
killed!  The  others  made  their  escape.  When  they 
came  in  with  the  news,  I  was  preparing  my  flags  to 
meet  the  war  chief.  The  alarm  was  given.  Nearly 
all  my  young  men  were  absent,  about  ten  miles  off.  I 
started  with  what  I  had  left,  (aboutybr^y,)  and  had  pro- 
ceeded but  a  short  distance,  before  we  saw  a  part  of 
the  army  approaching.  I  raised  a  yell,  and  said  to  my 
braves:-^" Some  of  our  people  have  been  killed! — 
wantonly  and  cruelly  murdered!  We  must  revenge 
their  death  !^'  ^  -^ 

In  a  little  while  we  discovered  the  whole  army  com- 
ing towards  us  in  full  gallop !  We  were  now  confi- 
dent that  our  first  party  had  been  killed !  I  immedi- 
ately placed  my  men  in  front  of  some  bushes,  that  we 
might  have  the  first  fire,  when  they  approached  close 
enough.  They  made  a  halt  some  distance  from  us. 
I  gave  another  yell,  and  ordered  my  brave  warriors  to 
charge  upon  them — expecting  that  we  would  all  be 
killed!  They  did  charge!  Every  man  rushed  and 
fired,  and  the  enemy  retreated!  in  the  utmost  confusion 
and  consternation,  before  my  little,  but  brave  band  of 
warriors ! 

After  pursuing  the  enemy  some  distance,  I  found  it 
useless  to  follow  them,  as  they  rode  so  fast,  and  return- 
ed to  my  encampment  with  a  few  of  my  braves,  (about 
twttnty-flve  having  gone  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy.)    I 


4f 


]ff0  y"  UVB  or  BI^OK  BAWS* 

Ufiij^  »y  pipe?  aiN(  sat  down  to  tbank  the  Great 
gui^t  for  what  we  had  done.  I  had  not  been  long 
^ditatng,  when  two  of  the  three  young  men  I  had 
•eat  out  with  the  "Rag  to  meet  the  American  war  chief, 
entSTod!  My  astonishment  was  not  greater  than  my 
joy  to  see  them  living  smd  well.  I  eagerly  listened  to 
their  story,  which  was  as  follows: 

^  When  we  arrived  near  to  the  encampment  of  the 
whites^  a  number  of  thein  rushed  out  to  meet  us,  bring- 
ing their  gunt«  with  them.  They  took  us  into  their 
camp,  where  an  American,  who  spoke  the  Sac  lan- 
guage a  little,  told  us  that  his  chief  wanted  to  know 
how  we  were — where  we  were  going — where  our 
camp  was — and  where  Black  Hawk  was?  We  told 
him  that  we  had  come  to  see  his  chief;  that  our  chief  had 
directed  us  to  conduct  him  to  our  camp,  in  case  he  had 
not  encamped ;  and,  in  that  event,  to  tell  him,  that  he 
[Black  Hawk,]  would  come  to  see  him;  he  wished 
to  hold  a  council  with  him,  as  he  had  given  up  all  in- 
tention of  going  to  war. 

''At  the  conclusion  of  this  talk,  a  party  of  white  men 
came  in,  on  horseback.  We  saw  by  their  countenan- 
ces that  something  had  happened.  A  general  tumult 
arose.  They  looked  at  us  with  indignation — talked 
among  themselves  for  a  moment — when  several  cocked 
their  guns — in  a  second,  they  fired  at  us  in  the  crowd ; 
our  companion  fell  dead!  We  rushed  through  the 
crowd  and  made  our  escape.  We  remained  in  am- 
bush but  a  short  time,  before  we  heard  yelling,  like 


.*  .- 


-'¥■ 


-* 


■■i-» 


'^'ii 


UFE  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


121 


Indians  running  an  enemj.  In  a  little  while  we  saw 
some  of  the  whites  in  full  speed.  One  of  theno.  came 
near  us.  I  threw  my  tomahawk,  and  struck  him  oo 
the  head,  which  brought  him  to  the  ground!  I  ran  to 
him,  and  with  his  own  knife,  took  off  his  scalp!  I  took 
his  gun,  mounted  his  horse,  and  took  my  friend  here 
behind  me.  We  turned  to  follow  our  braves,  who 
were  running  the  enemy,  and  had  not  gone  far  before 
we  overtook  a  white  man,  whose  horse  had  mired  in  a 
swamp!  My  friend  alighted,  and  tomahawked  the 
man,  who  was  apparently  fast  under  his  horse!  He 
took  his  5ca//?, horse,  and  gun!  By  this  time  our  party 
was  some  distance  ahead.  We  followed  on,  and  saw 
several  white  men  lying  dead  on  the  way.  After 
riding  about  six  miles,  we  met  our  party  returning. 
We  asked  them  how  many  of  our  men  had  been  killed? 
They  said  none,  after  the  Americans  retreated.  We 
inquired  then,  how  many  whites  had  been  killed? 
They  replied,  that  they  did  not  know;  but  said  we 
will  soon  ascertain,  as  we  must  scalp  them  as  we  go 
back.  On  our  return,  we  found  ten  men,  besides  the 
two  we  had  killed  before  we  joined  our  friends.  Seeing 
that  they  did  not  yet  recognise  us,  it  being  dark,  we 
again  asked,  how  many  of  our  braves  had  been  killed? 
They  said  ^re/  We  asked,  who  they  were?  They 
replied  that  the  first  party  of  three,  who  went  out  to 
meet  the  American  war  chief,  had  all  been  taken  pris- 
oners, and  killed  in  the  encampment;  and  that  out  of 
a  party  of  five,  who  followed  to  see  the  meeting  of  the 


II 


%' 


'    l.i^ 


i« 


122 


LIFE  OF  BLACK    JAWK. 


■Av. 


first  party  and  the  whites,  two  had  been  killed!  We 
were  now  certain  that  they  did  not  recognise  us — nor 
did  we  tell  them  who  we  were  until  we  arrived  at  our 
camp!  The  news  of  our  death  had  reached  it  some 
time  before,  and  al!  were  surprised  to  see  us  again !" 

The  next  morning  I  told  the  crier  of  my  village  to 
give  notice  that  we  must  go  and  bury  our  dead.  In  a 
little  while  all  were  ready.  A  small  deputation  was 
sent  for  our  absent  warriors,  and  the  remainder  started. 
We  first  disposed  of  our  dead,  and  then  commenced  an 
e:£amination,  in  the  enemy's  deserted  encampment,  for 
plunder.  We  found  arms,  ammunition,  and  provisions, 
all  which  we  were  in  want  of — particularly  the  lat- 
ter, as  we  were  entirely  without.  We  found,  also,  a 
variety  of  saddle-bags,  (whicL  I  distributed  among  my 
braves,)  and  a  small  quantity  of  whisky  I  and  some  little 
barrels  that  had  contained  this  bad  medicine;  but  they 
were  empty!  I  was  surprised  to  find  that  the  whites 
carried  whisky  with  them,  as  I  had  understood  that  all 
the  palefaces  belonged  to  the  temperance  societies! 

The  enemy's  encampment  was  in  a  skirt  of  woods 
near  a  run,  about  half  a  day's  travel  from  Dixon's 
ferry.  We  attacked  them  in  the  prairie,  with  a  few 
bushes  between  us,  about  sundown,  and  I  expected 
that  my  whole  party  would  be  killed!  I  never  was  so 
much  surprised,  in  all  the  fighting  I  have  seen — know- 
ing, too,  that  the  Americans,  generally,  shoot  well — 
as  I  was  to  see  this  army  of  several  hundreds,  retreating! 
WITHOUT  SHOWING  FIGHT !!  and  passing  immediately 

*   *         ' 

■4 


# 


UlUB  OP  BLAOK  HAWK. 


123 


through  their  encampment.  I  did  think  that  thej  in* 
tended  to  halt  here,  as  the  situation  would  have  for- 
bidden attack  by  mi/party,  if  their  number  had  not  ex- 
ceeded half  mine!  as  we  would  have  been  compelled 
to  take  the  open  prairie,  whilst  they  could  have  picked 
trees  to  shield  themselves  from  our  fire! 

Never  was  I  so  much  surprised  in  my  life,  as  I  was  in 
this  attack!  An  army  of  three  or  four  hundred,  after 
having  learned  that  we  were  sueing  for  peace,  to  at- 
tempt to  kill  the  flag-bearers  that  had  gone,  unarmed, 
to  ask  for  a  meeting  of  the  war  chiefs  of  the  two  con- 
tending parties  to  hold  a  council,  that  I  might  return 
to  the  west  side  of  the  Mississippi,  to  come  forward, 
with  a  full  determination  to  demolish  the  few  braves  I 
had  with  me,  to  retreat,  when  they  had  ten  to  one,  was 
unaccountable  to  me.  It  proved  a  different  spirit 
from  any  I  had  ever  before  seen  among  the  pale  faces! 
I  expected  to  see  them  fight  as  the  Americans  did 
with  the  British  during  the  last  war! — but  they  had 
no  such  braves  among  them! 

I  had  resolved  upon  giving  up  the  war — and  sent 
9-Jlag  of  peace  to  the  American  war  chief — expecting, 
as  a  matter  of  right,  reason  and  justice,  that  our  flag 
would  be  respected,  (I  have  always  seen  it  so  in  war 
among  the  whites,)  and  a  council  convened,  that  we 
might  explain  our  grievances,  having  been  driven 
from  our  village  the  year  before,  without  being  per- 
mitted to  gather  the  corn  and  provisions  which  our 
women  had  labored  hard  to  cuJtivate,  and  ask  for  per- 


* 


wmm 


124 


LIFE  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


«   ff 


mission  to  return — thereby  giving  up  all  idea  of  going 
to  war  against  the  white?. 

Yet,  instead  of  this  honorable  course^  which  /  have 
always  practised  in  war,  I  was  forced  intoWAR,  with 
about^ve  hundred  warriors,  to  contend  against  three  or 
four  thousand! 

The  supplies  that  Ne-a-pope  and  the  prophet  told  us 
about,  and  the  reinforcements  we  were  to  have,  were 
never  more  heard  of;  (and  it  is  but  justice  to  our  Brit- 
ish father  to  say,  were  never  promised — his  chief  having 
sent  word  in  lieu  of  the  lies  that  were  brought  to  me,  "for 
us  to  remain  at  peace,  as  we  could  accomplish 

NOTHING  BUT  OUR  OWN  RUIN,  BY   GOINO  TO  WAR!") 

What  was  now  to  be  done?  It  was  worse  than  folly 
to  turn  back  and  meet  an  enemy  where  the  odds  was 
so  much  against  us — and  thereby  sacrifice  ourselves, 
oui^ives  and  children,  to  the  fury  of  an  enemy  who 
had  murdered  some  of  our  brave  and  unarmed  warri- 
ore,  when  they  were  on  a  mission  to  sue  for  peace! 

Having  returned  to  our  encampment,  and  found  that 
all  our  young  men  had  come  in,  I  sent  out  spies^  to 
watch  the  movement  of  the  army,  and  commenced 
moving  up  Kish-wa-co-kee,  with  the  balance  of  my 
people.  I  did  not  know  where  to  go  to  find  a  place  of 
safety  for  my  women  and  children,  but  expected-  to 
find  a  good  harbor  about  the  head  of  Rock  river.  I 
concluded  to  go  there — and  thought  my  best  route 
would  be  to  go  round  the  head  of  Kish-wa-co-kee,  so 


1.*^    --v.  -  ^V 


■;«^...*n*^ 


*hik.<t 


UFB  OF  BLACK  HAWK* 


125 


that  the  Americans  would  have  some  difficulty,  if  they 
attempted  to  follow  us.  '  ' 

On  arriving  at  the  head  of  Kish-wa-co-kee,  I  was 
met  by  a  party  of  Winnebagoes,  who  seemed  to  rejoice 
at  our  success.  They  said  they  had  come  to  offer 
their  services,  and  were  anxious  to  join  us.  I  asked 
them  if  they  knew  where  there  was  a  safe  place  for  my 
women  and  children.  They  told  me  that  they  would 
send  two  old  men  with  us  to  guide  us  to  a  good  and 
safe  place. 

I  arranged  war  parties  to  send  out  in  different  direc- 
tions, before  I  proceeded  further.  The  Winnebagoes 
went  alone.  The  war  parties  having  all  been  fitted 
out  and  started,  we  commenced  moving  to  the  Four 
Lakes^  the  place  where  our  guides  were  to  conduct  us. 
We  had  not  gone  far,  before  six  Winnebagoes  came  in 
with  one  scalp !  They  said  they  had  killed  a  man  at  a 
grove,  on  the  road  from  Dixon's  to  the  lead  mines. 
Four  days  after,  the  party  of  Winnebagoes  who  had 
gone  out  from  the  head  of  Kish-wa-co-kee,  overtook  us, 
and  told  me  that  they  had  killed  four  men,  and  taken 
their  scalps;  and  that  one  of  them  was  Ke-o-kuck's 
father,  (the  agent.)  They  proposed  to  have  a  dance 
over  their  scalps!  I  told  them  that  I  could  have  no 
dancing  in  my  camp,  in  consequence  of  my  having  lost 
three  young  braves;  but  they  might  dance  in  their  own 
camp — which  they  did. 

Two  days  after,  we  arrived  in  safety  at  the  place 
where  the  Winnebagoes  had  directed  us.     In  a  few| 


*11 


:*^* 


#. 


!# 


•t 


# 


* 


196 


Lim  OF  IMiAOK  HAWlt« 


days  a  great  number  of  our  warriors  came  in.  I  called 
them  all  around  me,  and  addressed  them.  I  told  them, 
*'Now  is  the  time,  if  any  of  you  wish  to  come  into  dis- 
tinction, and  be  honored  with  the  medicine  bag!  Now 
is  the  time  to  show  your  courage  and  bravery,  and 
avenge  the  nlurder  of  our  three  braves!" 

Several  small  parties  went  out,  and  returned  again 
in  a  few  days,  with  success — bringing  in  provision  for 
our  people.  In  the  mean  time,  some  spies  came  in, 
and  reported  that  the  army  had  fallen  back  to  Dixon's 
ferry;  and  others  brought  news  that  the  horsemen  had 
broken  up  their  camp,  disbanded,  and  returned  home. 

Finding  that  all  was  safe,  I  made  a  dogfeast^  prepar- 
atory to  leaving  my  camp  with  a  large  party,  (as  the 
enemy  were  stationed  so  far  off.)  Before  my  braves 
commenced  feasting,  I  took  n^y  medicine  bagSj  and 
addressed  them  in  the  following  language: 

^^ Braves  and  Warriors: — These  are  the  medicine  bags 
of  our  forefather,  Muk-a-ta-quet,  who  was  the  father  of 
the  Sac  nation.  They  were  handed  down  to  the  great 
war  chief  of  our  nation,  Na-na-ma-kee,  who  has  been 
at  war  with  all  the  nations  of  the  lakes  and  all  the  na- 
tions of  the  plains,  and  have  never  yet  been  disgraced ! 
I  expect  you  all  to  protect  them!" 

After  the  ceremony  was  over,  and  our  feasting  done, 
I  started  with  about  two  hundred  warriors,  following 
my  great  medicine  bags!  I  directed  nly  course  towards 
sunset,  and  dreamed,  the  second  night  after  we  started, 
that  there  was  a  great  feast  for  us  after  one  day's  travel ! 


M 


#-    .# 


trra  09  BtAOK  HAWK. 


'^ 


1S7 


I  told  my  warriors  my  dream  in  the  morning,  and  we 
all  started  for  Mos-co-hoHSo-j-nak,  [Apple  river.] 
When  we  arrived  in  the  vicinity  of  a  fort  the  white 
people  had  built  there,  we  saw  four  men  on  horseback. 
One  of  my  braves  fired  and  wounded  a  man,  when 
the  others  set  up  a  yell,  as  if  a  large  force  were  near 
and  ready  to  come  against  us.  We  concealed  our- 
selves, and  remained  in  this  position  for  some  time, 
watching  *o  see  the  enemy  approach — but  none  came. 
The  four  men,  in  the  mean  time,  ran  to  the  fort  and 
gave  the  alarm.  We  followed  them,  and  attacked 
their  fort!  One  of  their  braves,  who  seemed  more 
valiant  than  the  rest,  raised  his  head  above  the  picket- 
ing to  fire  at  us,  when  one  of  my  braves,  with  a  well- 
directed  shot,  put  an  end  to  his  bravery !  Finding  that 
these  people  could  not  all  be  killed,  without  setting  fire 
to  their  houses  and  fort,  I  thought  it  more  prudent  to 
be  content  with  what  flour,  provisions,  cattle  and  horses 
we  could  find,  than  to  set  fire  to  their  buildings,  as  the 
light  would  be  seen  at  a  distance,  and  the  army  might 
suppose  that  we  were  in  the  neighborhood,  and  come 
upon  us  with  a  force  too  strong.  Accordingly,  we 
opened  a  house  and  filled  our  bags  with  flour  and  pro- 
visions— took  several  horses,  and  drove  off  some  of  their 
cattle.     ^* 

We  started  in  a  direction  towards  sunrise.  After 
marching  a  considerable  time,  I  discovered  some  white 
men  coming  towards  us.  I  told  my  braves  that  we 
would  get  into  the  woods  and  kill  them  when  they  ap- 


'»h 


■m. 


m 


Lira  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


proached.  We  concealed  ourselves  until  they  came 
near  enough,  and  then  commenced  yelling  and  firing, 
and  made  a  rush  upon  them.  About  this  time,  their 
chief,  with  a  party  of  men,  rushed  up  to  rescue  the  men 
we  had  fired  upon.  In  a  little  while  they  commenced 
retreating,  and  left  their  chief  and  a  few  hraves,  who 
seemed  willing  and  anxious  to  fight!  They  acted  like 
braves,  but  were  forced  to  give  way  when  I  rushed  upon 
them  with  my  braves.  In  a,  short  time  the  chief  re- 
turned with  a  larger  party.  He  seemed  determined 
to  fight,  and  anxious  for  a  battle!  When  he  came 
near  enough,  I  raised  the  yell,  and  firing  commenced 
from  both  sides.  The  chief  (who  seemed  to  be  a  small 
man)  addressed  his  warriors  in  a  loud  voice;  but  they 
soon  retreated,  leaving  him  and  a  few  braves  on  the 
battle-field.  A  great  number  of  my  warriors  pursued 
the  retreating  party,  and  killed  a  number  of  their 
horses  as  they  ran.  The  chief  and  his  few  braves  were 
unwilling  to  leave  the  f^eld.  I  ordered  my  braves  to 
rush  upon  them,  and  had  the  mortification  of  seeing 
two  of  my  chiefs  killed,  before  the  enemy  retreated. 

This  young  chief  deserves  great  praise  for  his  cour- 
age and  bravery;  but,  fortunately  for  us,  his  army  was 
not  all  composed  of  such  brave  men ! 

During  this  attack,  we  killed  several  men  and  about 
forty  horses,  and  lost  two  young  chiefs  and  seven  war- 
riors. My  braves  were  anxious  to  pursue  them  to  the 
fort,  attack,  and  burn  it.  But  I  told  them  that  it  was 
useless  to  waste  our  powder,  as  there  was  no  poss|i>le> 


1^.  .:m>- 


'vl«r> 


p 


Ltn  OF  BLACK  BA^^X. 


ido 


chance  of  success  if  we  did  attack  them — and  that,  at 
we  had  run  the  bear  into  his  hole,  we  would  there 
leave  him,  and  return  to  our  camp.   . 

On  arriving  at  our  encampment,  we  found  that  sev- 
eral parties  of  our  spies  had  returned,  bringing  intelli- 
gence that  the  army  had  commenced  moving.  Another 
party  o{  Jive  came  in  and  said  they  had  been  pursued 
for  several  hours,  and  were  attacked  by  twenty-five  or 
thirty  whites  in  the  woods ;  that  the  whites  rushed  in  upon 
them,  as  they  lay  concealed,  and  received  their  fire, 
without  seeing  them.  They  immediately  retreated, 
whilst  we  reloaded.  They  entered  the  thicket  again, 
and  as  soon  as  they  came  near  enough,  we  fired! 
Again  they  retreated,  and  again  they  rushed  into  the 
thicket  and  fired !  We  returned  their  fire,  and  a  skir- 
mish ensued  between  two  of  their  men  and  one  of 
ours,  who  was  killed  by  having  his  throat  cut!  This 
was  the  only  man  we  lost.  The  enemy  having  had 
three  killed,  they  again  retreated. 

Another  party  of  three  Sacs  had  come  in,  and 
brought  in  two  young  white  squaws,  whom  they  had 
given  to  the  Winnebagoes,  to  take  to  the  whites. 
They  said  they  had  joined  a  party  of  Pottowatomies, 
and  went  with  them,  as  a  war  party,  against  the  set- 
tlers on  the  Illinois. 

The  leader  of  this  party,  a  Potto watomie,  had  been 
severely  whipped  by  this  settler,  some  time  before, 
and  was  anxious  to  avenge  the  insult  and  injury. 
While  the  party  was  preparing  to  start,  a  young  Potto 


■#    ^ 


lH) 


Lira  OF  BLAOK  HAWK. 


watomie  went  to  the  settler's  house,  and  told  him  to 
leave  it — that  a  war  party  was  coming  to  murder 
them.  They  started,  but  soon  returned  again,  as  it 
appeared  that  they  were  all  there  when  the  war  partj 
arrived!  The  Pottowatomies  killed  the  whole  family, 
except  two  young  squaws,  whom  the  Sacs  took  up  on 
their  horses,  and  carried  off,  to  save  their  lives. — 
They  were  brought  to  our  encampment,  and  a  messen- 
ger sent  to  the  Winnebagoes,  as  they  were  friendly  on 
both  sides,  to  come  and  get  them,  and  carry  them  to  the 
whites.  If  these  young  men  belonging  to  my  band, 
had  not  gone  with  the  Pottowatomies,  the  two  young 
squaws  would  have  shared  the  same  fate  as  their 
friends. 

During  our  encampment  at  the  Four  Lakes,  we  were 
hard  put  to,  to  obtain  enough  to  eat  to  support  nature. 
Situate  in  a  swampy,  marshy  country,  (which  had  been 
selected  in  consequence  of  the  great  difficulty  required 
to  gain  access  thereto,)  there  was  but  little  game  of 
any  sort  to  be  found — and  fish  were  equally  scarce. 
The  great  distance  to  any  settlement,  and  the  impossi- 
bility of  bringing  supplies  therefrom,  if  any  could  have 
been  obtained,  deterred  our  young  men  from  making 
further  attempts.  We  were  forced  to  dig  roots  and 
bark  trees,  to  obtain  something  to  satisfy  hunger  and 
keep  us  alive!  Several  of  our  old  people  became  so 
much  reduced,  as  actually  to  die  with  hunger!  And, 
finding  that  the  army  had  commenced  moving,  and 
fearing  that  they  might  come  upon  and  surround  our 


..3:v^. 


LIFB  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


131 


encampment,  I  concluded  to  remove  my  women  and 
children  across  the  Mississippi,  that  they  might  return 
to  the  Sac  nation  again.  Accordingly,  on  the  next 
day,  we  commenced  moving,- with  five  Winnehagoes 
acting  as  our  guides,  intending  to  descend  the  Ouis- 
consin.  ^  ^' 

Ne-a-pope,  with  a  party  of  twenty,  remained  in  our 
rear,  to  watch  for  the  enemy,  whilst  we  were  proceed- 
ing to  the  Ouisconsin,  with  bur  women  an^  children. 
We  arrived,  and  had  commenced  crossing  t^em  to  an 
island,  when  we  discovered  a  large  body  of  the  enemy 
coming  towards  us.  We  were  now  compelled  to  fight, 
or  sacrifice  our  wives  and  children  to  the  fury  of  the 
whites!  I  met  them  with  fifty  warriors,  (having  left 
the  balance  to  assist  our  women  and  children  in  cross- 
ing,) about  a  mile  from  the  river,  when  an  attack  im- 
mediately commenced.  I  was  mounted  on  a  fine 
horse,  and  was  pleased  to  see  my  warriors  so  brave. 
I  addressed  them  in  a  loud  voice,  telling  them  to  stand 
their  ground,  and  never  yield  it  to  the  enemy.  At 
this  time  I  was  on  the  rise  of  a  hill,  where  I  wished  to 
form  my  warriors,  that  we  might  have  some  advantage 
over  the  whites.  But  the  enemy  succeeded  in  gaining 
this  point,  which  compelled  us  to  fall  back  into  a  deep 
ravine,  from  which  we  continued  firing  at  them  and 
they  at  us,  until  it  began  to  grow  dark.  My  horse  hav- 
ing been  wounded  twice  during  this  engagement,  and 
fearing  from  his  loss  of  blood,  that  he  would  soon  give 
out—- and  finding  that  the  enemy  would  not  come  near 


H 


133 


LIFE  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


enough  to  receive  our  fire,  in  the  dusk  of  the  evening 
— and  knowing  that  our  women  and  children  had  had 
sufficient  time  to  reach  the  island  in  the  On.isconsin,  I 
ordered  my  warriors  to  return,  in  different  routes,  and 
meet  me  at  the  Ouisconsin — and  were  astonished  to 
find  that  the  enemy  were  not  disposed  to  pursue  us. 

In  this  skirmish,  with  fifty  braves,  I  defended  and 
accomplished  my  passage  over  the  Ouisconsin,  with 
a  loss  of  only  six  men;  though  opposed  by  a  host  of 
mounted  militia.  I  would  not  have  fought  there,  but 
to  gain  time  for  my  women  and  children  to  cross  to  an 
island.  A  warrior  will  duly  appreciate  the  embarrass- 
ments I  labored  under — and  whatever  may  be  the  sen- 
timents of  the  white  people,  in  relation  to  this  battle, 
my  nation,  though  fallen,  will  award  to  me  the  repu- 
tation of  a  great  brave,  in  conducting  it. 

The  loss  of  the  enemy  could  not  be  ascertained  by 
our  party;  but  I  am  of  opinion,  that  it  was  much  great- 
er, in  proportion,  than  mine.  We  returned  to  the 
Ouisconsin,  and  crossed  over  to  our  people. 

Here  some  of  my  people  left  me,  and  descended  the 
Ouisconsin,  hoping  to  escape  to  the  west  side  of  the 
Mississippi,  that  they  might  return  home.  I  had  no 
objection  to  their  leaving  me,  as  my  people  were  all  in 
a  desperate  condition — being  worn  out  with  tra  celling, 
and  starving  from  hunger.  Our  only  hope  to  save 
ourselves,  was  to  get  across  the  Mississippi.  But  few 
of  this  party  escaped.  Unfortunately  for  them,  a 
party  of  soldiers  from  Prairie  du  Chien,  was  stationed 


wm 


0'.. 


LIFB  OF    BLACK    HAWK. 


133 


on  the  Oaisconsin,  a  short  distance  from  its  mouth,  who 
fired  upon  our  distressed  people.  Some  were  killed, 
others  drowned,  several  taken  prisoners,  and  the  bal- 
ance escaped  to  the  woods  and  perished  with  hun» 
ger.    Among  this  party  were  a  great  many  women 

and  children.  ^s 

I  was  astonished  to  find  that  Ne-a-pope  and  his  party 
of  spie»  had  not  yet  come  in — they  having  been  ]ell.4n 
my  rear  to  bring  the  news,  if  the  enemy  were  discov- 
eredi  It  appeared,  however,  that  the  whites  had  come 
in  a  different  direction,  and  intercepted  our  trail  but  a 
short  distance  from  the  place  where  we  first  saw 
them — leaving  our  spies  considerably  in  the  rear.  Ne- 
a-pope,  and  one  other,  retired  to  the  Winnebago  vil- 
lage, and  there  remained  during  the  war!  The  bal- 
ance of  his  party,  being  brave  men,  and  considering 
our  interest  as  tLeir  own,  returned,  and  joined  our 
ranks. 

Myself  and  band  having  no  means  to  descend  the 
Ouisconsin,  I  started,  over  a  rugged  country,  to  go  to 
the  Mississippi,  intending  to  cross  it,  and  return  to  my 
nation.  Many  of  our  people  were  compelled  to  go  on 
foot,  for  want  of  horses,  which,  in  consequence  of  their' 
having  had  nothing  to  eat  for  a  long  time,  caused  our 
march  to  be  very  slow.  At  length  we  arrived  at  i\),e 
Mississippi,  having  lost  some  o(  our  old  men  and  little 
children,  who  perished  on  the  way  with  hunger. 

We  had  been  here  but  a  little  while,  before  we  saw 
a  steam  boat  (the  ^* Warrior,")  coming*    I  told  my 


1 
I 


m 


i 


<cjf, 


134 


LIFE  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


braves  not  to  shoot,  as  I  intended  going  on  board,  so 
that  we  might  save  our  women  and  children.  I  knew 
the  captain,  [Throckmorton,]  and  was  determined  to 
give  myself  up  to  him.  I  then  sent  for  my  white  flag. 
While  the  messenger  was  gone,  I  took  a  small  piece  of 
white  cotton,  and  put  it  on  a  pole,  and  called  to  the 
captain  of  the  boat,  and  told  him  to  send  his  little  canoe 
ashore,  and  let  me  come  on  board.  The  people  on  the 
boat  asked  whether  we  were  Sacs  or  Winnebagoes.  I 
told  a  Winnebago  to  tell  them  that  we  were  Sacs,  and 
wanted  to  give  ourselves  up!  A  Winnebago  on  the 
boat  called  to  us  ^^  to  run  and  hide,  that  the  whites  were 
going  to  shoot l"*"*  About  this  time  one  of  my  braves 
had  jumped  into  the  river,  bearing  a  white  flag  to  the 
boat — when  another  sprang  in  after  him,  and  brought 
him  to  shore.  The  firing  then  commenced  from  the 
boat,  which  was  returned  by  my  braves,  and  continued 
for  some  time.  Very  few  of  my  people  were  hurt 
after  the  first  fire,  having  succeeded  in  getting  behind 
old  logs  and  trees,  which  shielded  them  from  the  ene- 
my's fire. 

The  Winnebago,  on  the  steam  boat,  must  either 
have  misunderstor!  r'ljat  was  told,  or  did  not  tell  it  to 
the  captain  correctly ;  because  I  am  confident  that  he 
would  not  have  fired  upon  us,  if  he  had  known  my 
wishes.  I  have  always  considered  him  a  good  man, 
and  too  great  a  brave  to  fire  upon  an  enemy  when 
suelng  for  quarters. 

Afler  the  boat  left  us,  I  told  my  people  to  croM,  if 


IP 


LIFE  OF  BLACK  HAWK* 


135 


thej  could,  and  wished:  that  I  iDtended  going  into  the 
Chippewa  country.  Some  commenced  crossing,  and 
such  as  had  determined  to  follow  them,  remained — 
onlj  three  lodges  going  with  me.  Next  morning,  at 
daybreak,  a  young  man  overtook  me,  and  said  that  all 
my  party  had  determined  to  cross  the  Mississippi — 
that  a  number  had  already  got  over  safe,  and  that  he 
had  heard  the  white  army  last  night  within  a  few  miles 
of  them.  I  now  began  to  fear  that  the  whites  would 
come  up  with  my  people,  and  kill  them,  before  they 
could  get  across.  I  had  determined  to  go  and  join 
the  Chippewas}  but  reflecting  that  by  this  I  could  only 
save  myself,  I  concluded  to  return,  and  die  with  my 
people,  if  the  Great  Spirit  would  not  give  us  another 
victory!  During  our  stay  in  the  thicket,  a  party  of 
whites  came  close  by  us,  but  passed  on  without  discov- 
enng  us! 

Early  in  the  morning  a  party  of  whites,  being  in  ad- 
vance of  the  army,  came  upon  our  people,  who  were 
attempting  to  cross  the  Mississippi.  They  tried  to  give 
themselves  up — the  whites  paid  no  attention  to  their 
entreaties — but  commenced  slaughtering  them!  In 
a  little  while  the  whole  army  arrived.  Our  braves, 
but  few  in  number,  finding  that  the  enemy  paid  no 
regard  to  age  or  sex,  and  seeing  that  they  were  mur- 
dering helpless  women  and  little  children,  determined 
to  fight  until  they  were  killed!  As  many  women  as 
could,  commenced  swimming  the  Mississippi,  with 
their  children  on  their  backs.  A  number  of  them  were 


■ppppwaana 


^^pi|<il«ilMP«P<Mp* 


mm 


136 


LIFE  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


drowned,  and  some  shot,  before  they  could  reach  the 
opposite  shore. 

jQne  of  my  braves,  who  gave  me  this  information, 
piled  up  some  saddles  before  him,  (when  the  fight  com- 
menced,) to  shield  himself  from  the  enemy's  fire,  and 
killed  three  white  men !  But  seeing  that  the  whites 
were  coming  too  close  to  him,  he  crawled  to  the  bank 
of  the  river,  without  being  perceived,  and  hid  himself 
under  it,  until  the  enemy  retired.  He  then  came  to 
me  and  told  me  what  had  been  done.  After  hearing 
this  sorrowful  news,  I  started,  with  my  little  party,  to 
the  Winnebago  village  at  Prairie  La  Cross.  On  my 
arrival  there,  I  entered  the  lodge  of  one  of  the  chiefs, 
and  told  him  that  I  wished  him  to  go  with  me  to  hi« 
father — that  I  intended  to  give  myself  uptto  the  Amer- 
ican war  chief,  and  die,  if  the  Great  Spirit  saw  proper! 
He  said  he  would  go  with  me.  I  then  took  my  medi- 
cine bag,  and  addressed  the  chief.  I  told  him  that  it 
was  "  the  soul  of  the  Siac  nation — that  it  never  had 
been  dishonored  in  any  battle — take  it,  it  is  my  life — 
dearer  than  life — and  give  it  to  the  American  chief !" 
He  said  he  would  keep  it,  and  take  care  of  it,  and  if  I 
was  suffered  to  live,  he  would  send  it  to  me. 

During  my  slay  at  the  village,  the  squaws  made  me  a 
white  dress  of  deer  skin.  I  then  started,  with  several 
Winnebagoes,  and  went  to  their  agent,  at  Prairie  da 
Chien,  and  gave  myself  up. 

On  my  arrival  there,  I  found  to  my  sorrow,  that  a 
large  body  of  Sioux  had  pursued,  and  killed,  a  number 


♦it 


^■PWW* 


^iilWPIW«""'»^||iPip|[pP»PW»PW^  JPiiWMll^ 


LIFE  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


137 


of  our  women  and  children,  who  had  got  safely  across 
the  Mississippi.  The  whites  ought  not  to  have  permit- 
ted such  conduct — and  none  hut  cowards  would  ever 
have  been  guilty  of  such  cruelty — which  has  always 
been  practised  on  our  nation  by  the  Sioux. 

The  massacre,  which  terminated  the  war,  lasted 
about  two  hours.  Our  loss  in  killed^  was  about  sixty, 
besides  a  number  that  were  drowned^  The  loss  of  the 
enemy  could  not  be  ascertained  by  my  braves,  exactly; 
but  they  think  that  they  killed  about  sixteen,  during 
the  action.  '  * 

I  was  now  given  up  by  the  agent  to  the  command- 
ing officer  at  fort  Crawford,  (the  White  Beaver  having 
gone  down  the  river.)  We  remained  here  a  short 
time,  and  then  started  to  Jefferson  Barracks,  in  a 
steam  boat,  under  the  charge  of  a  young  war  chief, 
[Lieut.  Jefferson  Davis]  who  treated  us  all  with  much 
kindness.  He  is  a  good  and  brave  young  chief,  with 
whose  conduct  I  was  much  pleased.  On  our  way 
down,  we  called  at  Galena,  and  remained  a  short  time. 
The  people  crowded  to  the  boat  to  see  us;  but  the  war 
chief  would  not  permit  them  to  enter  the  apartment 
where  we  were — knowing,  from  what  his  own  feelings 
would  have  been,  if  he  had  been  placed  in  a  similar 
situation,  that  we  did  not  wish  to  have  a  gaping  crowd 
around  us. 

We  passed  Rock  Island,  without  stopping.  The 
great  war  chief,  [Gen.  Scott,]  who  was  then  at  fort 
Armstrong,  came  out  in  a  small  boat  to  see  us;  but  the 

*13 


138 


LIFE  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


§ 


captain  of  the  steam  boat  would  not  allow  any  body 
from  the  fort  to  come  on  board  of  his  boat,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  cholera  raging  among  the  soldiers.  I 
did  think  that  the  captain  ought  to  have  permitted  the 
war  chief  to  come  on  board  to  see  me,  because  I  could 
see  no  danger  to  be  apprehended  by  it.  The  war 
chief  looked  well,  and,  I  have  since  heard,  was  con- 
stantly among  his  soldiers,  who  were  sick  and  dying, 
administering  to  their  wants,  and  had  not  caught  the 
disease  from  them — and  I  thought  it  absurd  to  think 
that  any  of  the  people  on  the  steam  boat,  could  be 
afraid  of  catching  the  disease  from  a  well  man.  But 
these  people  have  not  got  bravery  like  war  chiefs,  who 
never  year  any  thing! 

On  our  way  down,  I  surveyed  tl|^  country  that  had 
cost  us  so  much  trouble,  anxiety,  and  blood,  and  that 
now  caused  me  to  be  a  prisoner  of  war.  I  reflected 
upon  the  ingratitude  of  the  whites,  when  I  saw  their 
fine  houses,  rich  harvests,  and  every  thing  desirable 
around  them;  and  recoMected  that  all  this  land  had 
been  ours,  for  which  me  and  my  people  had  never  re- 
ceived a  dollar,  and  that  the  whites  were  not  satisfied 
until  they  took  our  village  and  ou  r  grave-yards  from 
US,  and  removed  us  across  the  Mississippi. 
'  On  our  arrival  at  Jefferson  barracks,  we  met  the 
great  war  chief,  [White  Beaver,]  who  had  command- 
ed the  American  army  against  my  little  band.  I  felt 
the  humiliation  of  my  situation:  a  little  while  before, 
I  had  been  the  leader  of  my  braves,  now  I  was  a  pris- 


'#:. 


mmm 


ipii^aiiiiPViinpnp 


P 


,-.ii> 


UFE  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


139 


oner  of  war!  but  had  surrendered  myself.  He  re- 
ceived us  kindly,  and  treated  us  well. 

We  were  now  confined  to  the  barracks,  and  forced 
to  wear  the  ball  and  chain!  This  was  extremely  mor- 
tifying, and  altogether  useless.  Was  the  White 
Beaver  afraid  that  I  would  break  out  of  his  barracks, 
and  run  away?  Or  was  he  ordered  to  inflict  this  pun- 
ishment upon  me?  If  I  had  taken  him  prisoner  on  the 
field  of  battle,  I  would  not  have  wounded  his  feelings 
so  much,  by  such  treatment — ^knowing  that  a  brave 
war  chief  would  prefer  death  to  dishonor!  But  I  do 
not  blame  the  White  Beaver  for  the  course  he  pursued 
— it  is  the  custom  among  white  soldiers,  and,  I  suppose, 
was  a  part  of  his  duty. 

The  time  dragged  heavily  and  gloomy  along  turough- 
out  the  winter,  although  the  White  Beaver  done  every 
thing  in  his  power  to  render  us  comfortable.  Having 
been  accustomed,  throughout  a  long  life,  to  roam  the 
forests  o'er — to  go  and  come  at  liberty — confinement, 
and  under  such  circumstances,  could  not  be  less  than 
torture! 

We  passed  away  the  time  making  pipes,  until  spring, 
when  we  were  visited  by  the  agent,  trader,  and  inter- 
preter, from  Rock  Island,  Ke-o-kuck,  and  several  chiefs 
and  braves  of  our  nation,  and  my  wife  and  daughter. 
I  was  rejoiced  to  see  the  two  latter,  and  spent  my  time 
very  agreeably  with  them  and  my  people,  as  long  as 
they  remained. 

The  trader  presented  me  with  some  dried  venison, 


*'f^ 


140 


k  4t 

Um  OF  BLACK  HAWK* 


which  had  been  killed  and  cured  bj  some  of  mj 
friends.  This  was  a  valuable  present;  and  although 
he  had  given  me  many  before,  none  ever  pleased  me 
so  much.  This  was  the  first  meat  I  had  eaten  for  a 
long  time,  that  reminded  me  of  the  former  pleasures  of 
mj  own  wigwam,  which  had  always  been  stored  with 
plenty. 

Ke-o-kuck  and  hii^  chiefs,  during  their  stay  at  the 
barracks^  petitioned  our  Great  Father,  the  President, to 
release  us;  and  pledged  themselves  for  our  good  con- 
duct. I  now  began  to  hope  that  I  would  soon  be  resto- 
red to  liberty,  and  the  enjoyment  of  my  family  and 
friends;  having  heard  that  Ke-o-kuck  stood  high  in  the 
estimation  of  our  Great  Father,  because  he  did  not  join 
me  in  the  war.  But  I  was  soon  disappointed  in  my 
hopes.  An  order  came  from  our  Great  Father  to  the 
White  Beaver,  to  send  u   on  to  Washington. 

In  a  little  while  all  were  ready,  and  left  Jefferson 
barracks  on  board  of  a  steamboat,  under  charge  of  a 
young  war  chief,  whom  the  White  Beaver  sent  along 
as  a  guide  to  Washington.  He  carried  with  him  an 
interpreter  and  one  soldier.  On  our  way  up  the  Ohio, 
we  passed  several  large  villages,  the  names  of  which 
were  explained  to  me.  The  first  is  called  Louisville, 
and  is  a  very  pretty  village,  situate  on  the  bank  of  the 
Ohio  river.  The  next  is  Cincinnati,  which  stands  on 
the  bp.nk  of  the  same  river.  This  is  a  large  and  beau- 
tiful village,  and  seemed  to  be  in  a  thriving  condition. 


# 


0 


LIFE  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


141 


The  people  gathered  on  the  bank  as  we  passed,  in 
great  crowds,  apparently  anxious  to  see  us. 

On  our  arrival  at  Wheeling,  the  streets  and  river's 
banks  were  crowded  with  people,  who  flocked  from 
every  direction  to  see  us.  While  we  remained 
here,  many  called  upon  us,  and  treated  us  with  kind- 
ness— no  one  offering  to  molest  or  misuse  us.  This 
village  is  not  so  large  as  either  of  those  before  men- 
tioned, but  is  quite  a  pretty  village. 

We  left  the  steam  boat  here,  having  travelled  a  long 
distance  on  the  prettiest  river  (except  our  Mississippi,) 
that  'I  ever  saw — and  took  the  stage,  fieing  unaccus- 
tomed to  this  mode  of  travelling,  we  soon  got  tired,  and 
wished  ourselves  seated  in  a  canoe  on  xme  of  our  own 
rivers,  that  we  might  return  to  our  friends.  We  had 
travelled  but  a  short  distance,  before  our  carriage 
turned  over,  from  which  I  received  a  slight  injury,  and 
the  soldier  had  one  arm  broken.  I  was  sorry  for  this 
accident,  as  the  young  man  had  behaved  well. 

We  had  a  rough  and  mountainous  country  for  seve- 
ral days,  but  had  a  good  trail  for  our  carriage.  It  is 
astonishing  to  see  what  labor  and  pains  the  white  peo- 
ple have  had  to  make  this  road,  as  it  passes  over  an 
immense  number  of  mountains,  which  are  generally 
covered  with  rocks  and  timber;  yet  it  has  been  made 
smooth,  and  easy  to  travel  upon. 

Rough  and  mountainous  as  is  this  country,  there  are 
many  wigwams  and  small  Tillages  standing  on  the  road 
side.    I  could  see  nothing  in  the  country  to  induce  the 


in^ 


r-^ 


142 


Lira  OF  BLACK  BAWK. 


people  to  live  in  it;  and  was  astonished  to  find  so  many 
whites  living  on  the  hills! 

I  have  often  thought  of  them  since  my  return  to  my 
own  people;  and  am  happy  to  think  that  they  prefer 
living  in  their  own  country,  to  coming  out  to  ours,  and 
driving  us  from  it,  that  they  might  live  upon  and 
enjoy  it — as  many  of  the  whites  have  already  done. 
I  think,  with  them,  that  wherever  the  Great  Spirit 
places  his  people,  they  ought  to  be  satisfied  to  remain, 
and  thankful  for  what  He  has  given  them;  and  not  drive 
others  from  the  country  He  has  given  them,  because  it 
happens  to  be  better  than  theirs!  This  is  contrary  to 
our  way  of  thinking;  and  from  my  intercourse  with  the 
whites,  I  have  learned  that  one  great  principle  o{  their 
religion  is,  'Ho  do  unto  others  as  you  wish  them 
to  do  unto  you!"  Those  people  in  the  mountains 
seem  to  act  upon  this  principle;  but  the  settlers  on  our 
frontiers  and  on  our  lands,  seem  never  to  think  of  it,  if 
we  are  to  judge  by  their  actions. 

The  first  village  of  importance  that  we  came  to,  after 
leaving  the  mountains,  is  called  Hagerstown.  It  is  a 
large  village  to  be  so  far  from  a  river,  and  is  very 
pretty.  The  people  appear  to  live  well,  and  enjoy 
themselves  much. 

We  passed  through  several  small  villages  on  the  way 
to  Fredericktown,  but  I  have  forgotten  their  names. 
This  last  is  a  large  and  beautiful  village.  The  people 
treated  us  well,  as  they  did  at  all  the  other  villages 
where  we  stopped. 


•m 


*      . 


Lira  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


143 


Here  we  came  to  another  road,  much  more  wonder- 
ful than  that  through  the  mountains.  They  call  it  a 
rail  road!  I  examined  it  carefully,  but  need  not 
describe  it,  as  the  whiles  know  all  about  it.  It  is  the 
most  astonishing  sight  I  ever  saw.  The  great  road 
over  the  mountains  will  bear  no  comparison  to  it — 
although  it  has  given  the  white  people  much  trouble  to 
make.  I  was  surprised  to  see  so  much  labor  and 
money  expended  to  make  a  good  road  for  easy  travel- 
ling. I  prefer  riding  on  horseback,  however,  to  any 
other  way ;  but  suppose  that  these  people  would  not 
have  gone  to  so  much  trouble  and  expense  to  make  a 
road,  if  they  did  not  prefer  riding  in  their  new  fash- 
ioned carriages,  which  seem  to  run  without  any  trouble. 
They  certainly  deserve  great  praise  for  their  industry. 

On  our  arrival  at  Washington,  we  called  to  see  our 
Great  Father,  the  President.  He  looks  as  if  he  had 
seen  as  many  winters  as  I  have,  and  seems  to  be  a  great 
brave!  I  had  very  little  talk  with  him,  as  he  appeared 
to  be  busy,  and  did  not  seem  much  disposed  to  talk. 
I  think  he  is  a  good  man;  and  although  he  talked  but 
little,  he  treated  us  very  well.  His  wigwam  is  well 
furnished  with  every  thing  good  and  pretty,  and  is  very 
strongly  built. 

He  said  he  wished  to  know  the  cause  of  my  going  to 
war  against  his  white  children .  I  thought  he  ought  to 
have  known  this  before;  and,  consequently,  said  but 
little  to  him  about  it — as  I  expected  he  knew  as  well 
as  I  could  tell  him. 


144 


UFI  OF  BLAUK  UAWKt 


He  said  he  wanted  us  to  go  to  fortress  Monroe,  and 
staj  awhile  with  the  war  chief  who  commanded  it. 
But,  haying  been  so  long  from  my  people,  I  told  him 
that  I  would  rather  return  to  my  nation — that  Ke-o- 
kuck  had  come  here  once  on  a  visit  to  see  him,  as  we 
had  done,  and  he  let  him  return  again,  as  soon  as  he 
wished;  and  that  I  expected  to  be  treated  in  the  same 
way.  He  insisted,  however,  on  our  going  to  fortress 
Monroe;  and  as  our  interpreter  could  not  understand 
enough  of  our  language  to  interpret  a  speech,  I  con* 
eluded  it  was  best  to  obey  our  Great  Father,  and  say 
nothing  contrary  to  his  wishes. 

During  our  stay  at  the  city,  we  were  called  upon  by 
many  of  f '^e  people,  who  treated  us  well,  particularly 
the  squa  a  We  visited  the  great  council  house  of  the 
Americans — the  place  where  they  keep  their  big  guns 
— and  all  the  public  buildings,  and  then  started  to  for- 
tress Monroe.  The  war  chief  met  us,  on  our  arrival, 
and  shook  hands,  and  appeared  glad  to  see  me.  He 
treated  us  with  great  friendship,  and  talked  to  me  fre- 
quently.  Previous  to  our  leaving  this  fort,  he  gave  us 
a  feast,  and  made  us  some  presents,  which  I  intend  to 
keep  for  his  sake.  He  is  a  very  good  man,  and  a  great 
brave!  I  was  sorry  to  leave  him, although  I  was  going 
to  return  to  my  people,  because  he  had  treated  me  like 
a  brother,  during  all  the  time  I  remained  with  him. 

Having  got  a  new  guide,  a  war  chief,  [Maj.  Gar- 
land,] we  started  for  our  own  country,  taking  a  circui- 
t0H8  route*    Our  Great  Father  being  about  to  pay  a 


. 


m 


m^mmmmm 


LIFa  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


!45 


visit  to  his  children  in  the  big  tmns  towards  sunrising, 
and  being  desirous  thnt  we  should  have  an  opportunity 
of  seeing  them,  directed  our  guide  to  take  us  through. 
On  our  arrival  at  Baltimore ,  we  were  much  aston- 
ished to  see  so  large  a  village ;  but  the  war  chief  told 
us  that  we  would  soon  sec  a  iarger  one.  This  surpris- 
ed us  more.  During  our  stay  here,  we  visited  all  the 
public  buildings  and  places  of  amusement — saw  much 
to  admire,  and  were  well  entertained  by  the  people, 
who  crowded  to  see  us.  Our  Great  Father  was  there 
at  the  same  time,  and  seemed  to  be  much  liked  by  his 
white  children,  who  flocked  around  him,  (as  they  had 
done  us,)  to  shake  him  by  the  hand.  He  did  not  re- 
main long — having  left  the  city  before  us. 

We  left  Baltimore  in  a  steam  boat,  and  travelled 
in  this  way  to  the  big  village,  where  they  make  medalt 
and  money,  [Philadelphia.]  We  again  expressed  sur- 
prise at  finding  this  village  so  much  larger  than  the  one 
we  bad  left;  but  the  war  chief  again  told  us,  that  we 
would  soon  see  another  much  larger  tb'in  this.  I 
had  no  idea  that  the  white  people  had  such  large  vil- 
lages, and  so  many  people.  They  were  very  kind  to 
us^-^howed  us  all  their  great  public  works,  their  ships 
and  steam  boats.  We  visited  the  place  where  they 
make  money,  [the  mint]  and  saw  the  men  engaged  at  it. 
They  presented  each  of  us  with  a  number  of  pieces 
of  the  coin  as  they  fell  from  the  mint,  which  are  very 
handsome. 

I  witnessed  a  militia  training  in  this  city,  in  which 


\\ 


146 


LIFE  OF  BLACK  HAWK* 


were  performed  a  namber  of  singular  military  feats. 
The  chiefs  and  men  were  well  dressed,  and  exhibited 
quite  a  warlike  appearance.  I  think  our  system  of 
military  parade  far  better  than  that  of  the  whites— 
but,  as  I  am  now  done  going  to  war,  I  will  not  describe 
it,  or  say  any  thing  more  about  war,  or  the  preparations 
necessary  for  it. 

We  next  started  to  New  York,  and  on  our  arrival 
near  the  wharf,  saw  a  large  collection  of  people  gath- 
ered at  Castle-Garden.  We  had  seen  many  wonder- 
ful sights  in  our  way — ^large  villages,  the  great  national 
road  over  the  mountains,  the  rail-roads,  steam  carriages, 
ships,  steam  boats,  and  many  other  things ;  but  we  were 
now  about  to  witness  a  sight  more  surprising  than  any 
of  these.  Wc  were  told  that  a  man  was  going  up  into 
the  air  in  a  balloon !  We  watched  with  anxiety  to  see 
if  it  could  be  true;  and  to  our  utter  astonishment,  saw 
him  ascend  in  the  air  until  the  eye  could  no  longer 
perceive  him.  Our  people  were  all  surprised,  and  one 
of  our  young  men  asked  the  prophet,  if  he  was  going 
up  to  see  the  Great  Spirit? 

After  the  ascension  of  the  balioon,  we  landed,  and 
got  into  a  carriage,  to  go  to  the  house  that  had  been 
provided  for  our  reception.  We  had  proceeded  but  a 
short  distance,  before  the  street  was  so  crowded  that  it 
was  impossible  for  the  carr  r.ge  to  pass.  The  war  chief 
then  directed  the  coachman  to  take  another  street,  and 
stop  at  a  different  house  from  the  one  he  had  intended. 
On  our  arrival  here,  we  were  waited  upon  by  a  num- 


i 


Ll¥>E  6'P  BLACK  HAWK. 


147 


ber  of  gentlemen,  who  seemed  much  pleased  to  see  us. 
We  were  furnished  with  good  rooms,  good  provisions, 
and  every  thing  necessary  for  our  comfort. 

The  chiefs  of  this  big  village^  being  desirous  that  all 
their  people  should  have  an  opportunity  to  see  us,  fitted 
up  their  great  council-house  for  this  purpose,  where  we 
saw  an  immense  number  of  people;  all  of  whom  treated 
us  widh  friendship,  and  many  with  great  generosity. 

The  chiefs  were  particular  in  showing  us  every  thing 
that  they  thought  would  be  pleasing  or  gratifying  to 
us.  We  went  with  them  to  Castle-Garden  to  see  the 
fireworks,  which  was  quite  an  agreeable  entertainment 
— but  to  the  whites  who  witnessed  it,  less  magnificent 
than  the  sight  of  one  of  our  large  prairies  would  be 
when  on  fire. 

We  visited  all  the  public  buildings  and  places  of 
amusement,  which  to  us  were  truly  astonishing,  yet 
very  gratifying. 

Every  body  treated  us  with  friendship,  and  many 
with  great  liberality.  The  squaws  presented  us  many 
handsome  little  presents,  that  are  said  to  be  valuable. 
They  were  very  kind,  very  good,  and  very  pretty — for 
palefaces!  ,. 

Among  the  men  who  treated  us  with  marked 
friendship,  by  the  presentation  of  many  valuable  pres- 
ents, I  cannot  omit  to  mention  the  name  of  my  old 
friend.  Crooks,  of  the  American  Fur  Company.  I 
have  known  him  long,  and  have  always  found  him  to  be 
a  good  chief-->one  who  gives  good  advice,  and  treats 


J** 


118 


LIFE  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


our  people  right.  I  shall  always  be  proud  to  recog- 
nize him  as  a  friend,  and  glad  to  shake  him  by  the 
hand. 

Having  seen  all  the  wonders  of  this  hig  village^  and 
being  anxious  to  return  to  our  people,  our  guide  started 
with  us  for  our  own  country.  On  arriving  at  Albany, 
the  people  were  so  anxious  to  see  us,  that  they  crowded 
the  street  and  wharves,  where  the  steam  boat  landed, 
so  much,  that  it  was  almost  impossible  for  us  to  pass  to 
the  h<$tel  which  had  been  provided  for  our  reception. 

We  remained  here  but  a  short  time, and  then  started 
for  Detroit.  I  had  spent  many  pleasant  days  at  this 
place;  and  anticipated,  on  my  arrival,  to  meet  many 
of  my  old  friends — but  in  this  I  was  disappointed. 
What  could  be  the  cause  of  this?  Are  they  all  dead? 
Or  what  has  become  of  them?  I  did  not  see  our  old 
father  there,  who  had  always  gave  me  good  advice,  and 
treated  me  with  friendship. 

After  leaving  Detroit,  it  was  but  a  (ew  days  before 
we  landed  at  Prairie  du  Chien.  The  war  chief  at  the 
fort  treated  us  very  kindly,  as  did  the  people  generally. 
I  called  on  the  father  of  the  Winnebagoes,  {Gen.  J. 
M.  Street,]  to  whom  I  had  surrendered  myself  after 
the  battle  at  the  Bad  Axe,  who  received  me  very 
friendly.  I  told  him  that  I  had  left  my  great  medicine 
bag  with  his  chiefs  before  I  gave  myself  up;  and  now, 
that  I  was  to  enjoy  my  liberty  again,  I  was  anxious  to 
get  it,  that  I  might  hand  it  down  to  my  nation  unsullied ! 

He  said  it  was  safe;  he  had  heard  his  chiefs  speak 


X 


^- 


UFE  OF  BLACK  HAWK* 


149 


of  it,  and  would  get  it  and  send  it  to  me.  I  hope  he 
will  not  forget  his  promise,  as  the  whites  generally  do 
— because  I  have  always  heard  that  he  was  a  good  man, 
and  a  good  father — and  made  no  promises  that  he  did 
not  fulfil. 

Passing  down  the  Mississippi,  I  discovered  a  large 
collection  of  people  in  the  mining  country,  on  the 
west  side  of  the  river,  and  on  the  ground  that  we  had 
given  to  our  relation,  Dubuque,  a  long  time  ago,  I  was 
surprised  at  this,  as  I  had  understood  from  our  Crreat 
Father,  that  the  Mississippi  was  to  be  the  dividing  line 
between  his  red  and  white  children,  and  that  he  did 
not  wish  either  to  cross  it,  I  was  much  pleased  with 
this  talk,  as  I  knew  that  it  would  be  much  better  for 
both  parties.  I  have  since  found  the  country  much 
settled  by  the  whites  further  down,  {ind  near  to  our 
people,  on  the  west  side  of  the  river.  I  am  very  much 
afraid  that,  in  a  few  years,  they  will  begin  to  drive  and 
abuse  our  people,  as  they  have  formerly  done.  I  may 
not  live  to  see  it,  but  I  feel  certain  that  the  day  is  not 
distant. 

When  we  arrived  at  Rock  Island,  Ke-o-kuck  and 
the  other  chiefs  were  sent  for.  They  arrived  the  next 
day  with  a  great  number  of  their  young  men,  and 
came  over  to  see  me.  I  was  pleased  to  see  them,  and 
they  all  appeared  glad  to  see  me.  Among  them  were 
some  who  had  lost  relations  during  the  war  -the  year 
before.  When  we  met,  I  perceived  the  tear  of  sor- 
row gush  from  their  eyes  at  the  recollection  of  their 

»13 


%• 


'n» 


m  I 


41 


150 


LIFE  OF  BLACK  HAWK* 


loss;  yet  they  exhibited  a  smiling  countenance,  from 
the  joy  they  felt  at  seeing  me  alive  and  well. 

The  next  morning  the  war  chief,  our  guide,  conve- 
ned a  council  at  fort  Armstrong.  Ke-o-kuck  and  his 
party  went  to  the  fort;  but,  in  consequence  of  the  war 
chief  not  having  called  for  me  to  accompany  him,  I 
concluded  that  I  would  wait  until  1  was  sent  for.  Con- 
sequently the  interpreter  came,  and  said  "  they  were 
ready,  and  had  been  waiting  for  me  to  come  to  the 
fort.^^  I  told  him  I  was  ready,  and  would  accompany 
him.  On  our  arrival  there,  the  council  commenced. 
^  The  war  chief  said  that  the  object  of  this  council  was 
:$:  to  deliver  me  up  to  Ke-o-kuck.  He  then  read  a  paper, 
and  directed  me  to  follow  Ke-o-kuck' s  advice^  and  he  gov 
erned  by  his  counsel  in  all  things !  In  this  speech  he 
said  much  that  was  mortifying  to  my  feelings,  and  I 
m.ade  an  indignant  reply, 

I  do  not  know  what  object  the  war  chief  had  in 
making  such  a  speech,  or  whether  he  intended  what 
he  said;  but  I  do  know,  that  it  was  uncalled  for,  and 
did  not  become  him.  I  have  addressed  many  war 
chiefs,  and  have  listened  to  their  speeches  with  pleas- 
ure— but  never  had  my  feelings  of  pride  and  honor 
insulted  on  any  former  occasion.  I  am  sorry  that  I 
was  so  hasty  in  reply  to  this  chief,  because  I  said  that 
which  I  did  not  intend. 

In  this  council,  I  met  my  old  friend,  a  great  war 
chief,  [Col.  Wm.  Davbnport,]  whom  I  had  known 
alN>Ht  eighteen  years.    He  is  a  good  and  bra?e  chief. 


-*' 


UFB  OF  SLACr  HAWK. 


151 


He  always  treated  me  well,  and  gave  me  good  advice. 
He  made  a  speech  to  me  on  this  occasion,  very  differ' 
ent  from  that  of  the  other  chief.  It  sounded  like 
coming  from  a  brave!  He  said  he  had  known  me 
a  long  time — that  we  had  heen  good  friends  during 
that  acquaintance — and,  although  he  had  fought 
against  my  braves,  in  our  late  war,  he  still  extended 
the  hand  of  friendship  to  me — and  hoped,  that  I  was 
now  satisfied,  from  what  I  had  seen  in  my  travels,  that 
it  was  felly  to  think  of  going  to  war  against  the 
whites,  and  would  ever  remain  at  peace.  He  said  he 
would  be  glad  to  see  me  at  all  times — and  on  all  oc- 
casions would  be  happy  to  give  me  good  advice. 

If  our  Great  Father  were  to  make  such  men  our 
agents,  he  would  much  better  subserve  the  interests  of 
our  people,  as  well  as  his  own,  than  in  any  other  way. 
The  war  chiefs  all  know  our  people,  and  are  respected 
by  them.  If  the  war  chiefs, at  the  different  military  posts 
on  the  frontiers,  were  made  agents,  they  could  always 
prevent  difficulties  from  arising  among  the  Indians  and 
whites;  and  I  have  no  doubt,  had  the  war  chief  above 
alluded  to,  been  our  agent,  we  never  would  have  had 
the  difficulties  with  the  whites  wliich  we  have  had. 
Our  agents  ought  always  to  be  braves f  I  would, 
therefore,  recommend  to  our  Great  Father,  the  propri* 
ety  of  breaking  up  the  present  Indian  establishment, 
and  creating  a  new  one — and  ci£  making  the  com- 
Bianding  officers,  at  the  different  frontier  posts,  thft 


1 


'■'^ 


I 


152 


UFB  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


h^ 


agents  of  the  government  for  the  different  nations  of 
Indians. 

I  have  a  good  opinion  of  the  American  war  chiefs, 
generally,  with  whom  I  am  acquainted ;  and  my  peo- 
ple, who  had  an  opportunity  of  seeing  and  becoming 
well  acquainted  with  the  great  war  chief,  [Gen.  Win- 
field  Scott,]  who  made  the  last  treaty  with  them,  in 
conjunction  with  the  great  chief  of  Illinois,  [Gover- 
nor Reynolds,]  all  tell  me  that  he  is  the  greatest  brave 
they  ever  saw,  and  a  good  man — one  who  ful^  all  his 
promises.  Our  braves  speak  more  highly  of  him,  than 
any  chief  that  has  ever  been  among  us,  or  made  trea- 
ties with  us.  Whatever  he  says,  may  be  depended 
upon.  If  he  had  been  our  Great  Father,  we  never 
would  have  been  compelled  to  join  the  British  in  their 
last  war  with  America — and  I  .have  thought  that,  as 
our  Great  Father  is  changed  every  few  years,  that  his 
children  would  do  well  to  put  this  great  war  chief  in 
his  place — as  they  cannot  find  a  better  chief  for  a 
Great  Father  any  where. 

I  would  be  glad  if  the  village  criers,  [editors,]  in  all 
the  villages  I  passed  through,  would  let  their  people 
know  my  wishes  and  opinions  about  this  great  war 
chief. 

During  my  travels,  my  opinions  were  asked  on  dif- 
ferent subjects^^ut  for  want  of  a  good  interpreter, 
were  very  seldom  given.  Presuming  that  they  would 
be  equally  acceptable  now,  I  have  thought  it  a  part  of 
my  duty,  to  lay  the  most  important  before  the  public. 


IiIFS  OF  BLACK  HAWK. 


153 


The  subject  of  colonizing  the  negroes  was  intro- 
duced, and  my  opinion  asked,  as  to  the  best  method  of 
getting  clear  of  these  people.  I  was  not  prepared,  at 
the  time,  to  answer — as  I  knew  but  little  about  their 
situation.  I  have  since  made  many  inquiries  on  the 
subject — and  find  that  a  number  .of  states  admit  no 
slaves,  whilst  the  balance  hold  these  negroes  as  slaves, 
ami  are  anxious,  but  do  not  know,  how  40  get  clear  of 
them.  I;  will  now  give  my  plau,  which,  when  under- 
stood, I  hfO^e  will  be  adopted. 

Let  the  free  states  remove  all  the  male  negroes 
within  their  limits,  to  the  slave  states — then  let  our 
Great  Father  buy  all  the  female  negroes  in  the  slave 
states,  between  the  ages  of  twelve  and  twenty,  and 
sell  them  to  the  people  of  the  free  states,  for  a  term  of 
years-^say,  those  under  fifteen,  until  they  are  twenty- 
one — and  those  of,  and  over  fifteen,  for  five  years— 
and  continue  to  buy  all  the  females  in  the  slave  states, 
as  soon  as  they  arrive  at  the  age  of  twelve,  and  take 
them  to  the  free  states,  and  dispose  of  them  in  the  same 
way  as  the  first — and  it  will  not  be  long  before  the 
country  is  clear  of  the  black  skins,  about  which,  I  am 
told,  they  have  been  talking  for  a  long  time;  and  for 
which  they  have  expended  a  large  amount  of  money. 

I  have  no  doubt  but  our  Great  Father  would  wil- 
lingly do  his  part  in  accomplishing  this  object  for  his 
children — as  he  could  not  lose  much  by  it,  and  would 
make  them  all  happy.     If  the  free  states  did  not  want 


7:i     :\ 


154 


LIVE  Of  BLACK  HAWK. 


them  all  for  servants,  we  would  take  the  balance  in  our 
nation,  to  help  our  women  make  corn ! 

I  have  not  time  now,  nor  is  it  necessary,  to  enter 
more  into  detail  about  my  travels  through  the  United 
States.  The  white  people  know  all  about  them,  and 
my  people  have  started  to  their  hunting  grounds,  and 
I  am  anxious  to  follow  tb»m. 
J»  Before  I  take  leave  of  the  public,  I  must  contradict 
the  story  of  some  village  criers^  who  (I  have  |een  told,) 
accuse  me  of  ^*  having  murdered  women  anoTchildren 
among  the  whites!"  This  assertion  v&false^  I  never 
did,  nor  have  I  any  knowledge  that  any  of  my  nation 
ever  killed  a  white  woman  or  chf^.  I  make  this  state- 
ment of  truth,  to  satisfy  the  white  people  among  whom 
•  I  have  been  travelling,  (and  by  whom  I  have  been 
treated  with  great  kindness,)  that,  when  they  shook 
me  by  the  hand  so  cordially,  they  did  not  shake  the 
hand  that  had  ever  been  raised  against  any  but  war- 
riors. 

It  has  always  been  our  custom  to  receive  all  stran- 
gers that  come  to  our  village  or  camps,  in  time  of  peace, 
to  share  with  them  the  best  provisions  we  have,  and 
give  them  all  the  assistance  in  our  power.  If  on  a 
journey,  or  lost,  to  put  them  on  the  right  trail — and  if 
in  want  of  mocasins,  to  supply  them.  I  feel  grateful 
to  the  whites  for  the  kind  manner  they  treated  me  and 
my  party,  whilst  travelling  among  them — and  from  my 
heaitt  I  assure  them,  that  the  white  man  will  always 
be  welcome  in  our  village  or  camps,  as  a  brother. 


■» 


LIFE  Ot  BLACK  HAWK. 


155 


The  tomahawk  is  buried  forever!  We  will  forget 
what  has  past — and  may  the  watchword  between  the 
Americans  and  Sacs  and  Foxes,  ever  be — ^*'/Wetu2rAtjp/" 
I  am  now  done.  A  few  more  moons,  and  I  must  fol- 
low my  fathers  to  the  shades!  May  the  Great  Spirit 
"keep  our  people  and  the  whites  always  at  peace — is 
the  sincere  wish  of 

BLACK  HAWK. 


♦ 


# 


ijft' 


'♦ 


i/l 


^Wi 


m 


